Hospital's new president plans to improve services
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

Christopher Lane

While expansion continues outside of Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital, newly appointed president Christopher Lane plans to focus on the development within the walls.

"I want to make this hospital extremely user friendly and improve the excellent base already set," Lane, 34, said, adding that when the construction is completed he wants to be ready to fill the beds.

"We fill an unmet need in the community," he said.

According to Lane, he plans to focus on the hospital's duty to serve a growing community.

Lane, a Clarence resident, succeeds Arthur Dunn, who retired at the end of 2006.

"Chris' reputation has definitely preceded him," said senior marketing associate Barbara Browning. "Everyone at Suburban knows how much he contributed to DeGraff and how well liked he is by its staff, so we're all excited to have him on board at Suburban,"

Having served as president of DeGraff Memorial Hospital for the past four years, Lane was credited with the turnaround of the Tonawanda institution.

At DeGraff, Lane and his team worked to move the hospital into financial security by increasing revenues and patient volumes and improving patient satisfaction scores as well as quality in both the hospital and nursing home setting.

He plans to implement the same goals at Millard Fillmore Suburban, with a focus on women's services. The hospital already guarantees private rooms for all new mothers following delivery.

"I want to mirror the image of the public to public health needs," he said.

With 1,200 employees, Millard Fillmore Suburban is one of the largest employers in Amherst. Within two years 100,000 square feet of space will be added, including a revamped emergency room.

"It's doubling in size to grow with the community," Lane said, adding that within his first week at the hospital he has already seen a big step towards completion.

"When the hospital was originally built, the emergency department was designed to accommodate 14,000 patients a year. We currently see nearly 40,000 emergency department patients a year. That alone speaks volumes about our need to expand," he said.

While Millard Fillmore Suburban continues to grow and flourish the same can't be said for a few area hospitals expected to close this year following a vote at the state level.

Lane said it is unknown at this time how those closures and consolidations will affect Millard Fillmore Suburban.

"I don't anticipate any radical changes. Since we are growing now we should be suited to handle additional volume," he said.

Lane believes one of his major roles as president is to be involved in the community he is serving.

"I am going to be out and about in the community as an advocate for this hospital," he said, adding that in the past he has been a member of many philanthropic boards.

He also plans to educate residents on prevention in order to avoid unnecessary visits to the hospital.

Lane received his bachelor's degree from Colgate University and is finishing his Master of Science degree in health care administration from D'Youville College.

He is a a past recipient of Modern Healthcare's "Up and Comer" award. Lane joined Kaleida Health in 2003 after serving as a nursing home administrator for eight years in Massachusetts.

In addition to serving as president of Millard Fillmore Suburban, Lane will be serving as a corporate vice president for Kaleida Health.