Hospital assets need not be merged

With the amalgamation of the Erie County Medical Center and Kaleida making the news almost every day, it's important to clear confusion surrounding the issue.

Last year, the Commission on Health Care in the 21st Century mandated that ECMC and Buffalo General Hospital "be joined under a single unified governance structure." The recent creation of the "NewCo" board has satisfied that requirement. A full asset merger between ECMC (and Buffalo General) is not necessary, nor is it in the best interest of the community.

ECMC continues to play an important role in Western New York, providing a full and complete spectrum of essential services to all, regardless of health insurance coverage. Its trauma center and burn unit are renowned throughout the region, and its various clinics provide basic care to those in the community. ECMC serves the people of Buffalo and Erie County in ways that no other facility can. No private provider would ever have that same responsibility, and people in need of care could fall through the cracks. A full asset merger, and the loss of a public hospital, would jeopardize those essential services here in Western New York.

The spirit of the health care commission's recommendation is to end duplication of services between ECMC and Buffalo General, not to shut down one of the facilities. CSEA supports ending the medical arms race while keeping ECMC public and available to all.
Flo Tripi
President
CSEA Western Region