Cheektowaga hospital talks continue

[steven]

The future of St. Joseph Hospital, recommended to close by a state commission, continues to be the subject of negotiations between officials from the state Department of Health and the Catholic Health System.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Wednesday that he believes the result of the discussions will be a "wise accommodation" that will meet the needs of the patients and the employees of the hospital while staying true to the commission's recommendations, according to the health system.

Catholic Health has fought in court the closure of the hospital as recommended by the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century. Empaneled to identify where costs could be removed by the state's health care system, the commission proposed several closings, consolidations and service reconfigurations across New York. The proposals became law last January.

After a couple of court losses, the system is pursuing an appeal before the state Supreme Court, but the action may be moot if a resolution with the state health officials is reached.

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/s...l?surround=lfn

[knowsitall]

Press Conference at 4pm at Sisters Hospital

http://www.health.state.ny.us/press/...facilities.htm

[OneEmerald]

Great news for Cheektowaga and surrounding areas.

[mesue]

until 2011, then what?

[BuffaloEMT14216]

Okay great, but it still doesn't solve our local problem that we face. St. Joes is going to become an SNF and/or a urgent care facility like the MACC, I guarantee. Besides, Catholic Health is just probably asking for more money then the state is willing to give for closing St. Joes. These supposed "not for profits" would love to get out of the ER game all together. That's why you are starting to see more urgent care facilities, even at national pharmacies like CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, etc.
Health Systems don't make money on emergency rooms, especially in NY.

When the Buffalo Columbus, Sheehan, Lafeyette,Deaconess, St. Francis, OLV hospitals were all closed nobody ever had the foresight to expand ER's.
Every hospital currently open in Buffalo needs to expand there ER space. Buffalo General needs a massive new ER, the new ER which is only 12 years old is small, cramped, and outdated.

We need to have two hospitals at least with an emergency room capablitity of 30 ER beds, 20 Fasttrack beds, 6 trauma rooms. Also, we need to move Childrens to the medical campus, rennovate Buffalo "NO" Mercy so they can finally get a new expanded ER that'll at least get up to late 20th Century standards. Christ, going in their now I'd rather be in a Civil War hospital tent.