St. Joe's to stay open, says state officials
Breaking News - 1/17, 4:45 p.m.
Updated - 1/18, 4 p.m.
After a long and tenuous waiting process, local residents and medical staff learned Thursday afternoon that St. Joseph Hospital will remain open.
In a deal reached between the Catholic Health System and the New York State Department of Health, St. Joseph will maintain 125 hospital beds, core services and its state-of-the-art emergency department on the Harlem Road campus under the sponsorship of Sisters of Charity Hospital.
The hospital will also maintain inpatient acute care and surgical services, outpatient medical and surgical services and a full array of diagnostic and rehabilitative services.
Under the agreement, St. Joseph Hospital will surrender its operating certificate and its 208 licensed beds, including 127 beds currently in operation. The facility will immediately reopen as the eastern campus of Sister of Charity Hospital with 125 unused beds from the Sisters operating license on a yet-to-be-determined date.
The end result will be a reduction from the current 621 licensed beds between the two hospitals to 413 beds under the Sisters operating certificate.
A statement issued by Congressman Brian Higgins read, "I applaud the Governor's leadership on this effort and the state's $8 million contribution that solidified the hospital's future in Cheektowaga. CHS President Joe McDonald and the employees are to be commended for their steadfast commitment to finding a resourceful way to keep St. Joe's operating. This community is greatly served by the state-of-the-art quality care offered at St. Joseph Hospital."
In 2006, the New York State Commission on Health Care in the 21st Century, or "Berger Commission," recommendation included St. Joe's among several state-wide health care facilities that were not profitable and suggested to be closed. Since that time, several politicians and residents have spoke against the closing, and petitions were submitted to state officials.
A full report will appear in the January 24, 2008 edition of the Cheektowaga Times.
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