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Lakeshore ER closing

State orders violated

Silver Creek fire chief Brandyn Griewisch speaks as staff and area officials begin to learn about the emergency room closure.

IRVING — As Silver Creek Fire Department Chief Brandyn Griewisch spoke at a podium positioned in front of Lakeshore Hospital, one worker scurried quickly behind him to hand out copies of a new document she had just received while inside the facility.

It announced the abrupt closing of the Lakeshore emergency room, effective at 7 p.m. Sunday.

Almost calculatingly, the Brooks-TLC Hospital System sent the notice right as the rally to support the emergency department and the behavioral health clinic began taking place at 1 p.m. Friday. “I wish we had better news to share with you, but the attached press release is going out and we want you to be aware,” Mary LaRowe, president and chief executive officer of the hospital said in an email to employees Friday. “We appreciate all you do and the support as we have had to make some very difficult decisions.”

It was one more action taken by the administration that ignores an edict from the state Office of Mental Health’s Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council that last week admonished hospital management for their lack of planning and execution in announcing the closing in early December. “Once again we have to call on this employer to do the right thing,” said Peter DeJesus Jr. of the Service Employees International Union. “It’s a sad day.”

Despite calls by union workers, elected representatives, community members and emergency responders to “do the right thing,” Brooks-TLC did exactly what they were not supposed to do.

OBSERVER Photo Assemblyman Andrew Goodell called on the hospital to work with community leaders.

In a statement similar to the one obtained by the OBSERVER on Thursday, James Plastiras, state Office of Mental Health spokesman, said no edict has yet been made by the commissioner or the department.

“(State Office of Mental Health) has not issued a decision regarding the application from Brooks-TLC to close the Hospital’s inpatient psychiatric unit,” he said. “Therefore, TLC’s inpatient unit must remain open. Until it acts on the Comprehensive Prior Approval Review Application, any effective closure of the unit is contrary to (the Office of Mental Health’s) current position relative to the hospital’s request. Should the hospital close the inpatient unit without (state) approval, they will be subject to potential regulatory enforcement actions.”

As of Friday afternoon, state Sen. George Borrello was in disbelief regarding the fragile health-care institution’s actions and outright defiance. He did not mince words when talking about the lack of transparency by the organization. “This is kind of a consistent theme,” Borrello said. “They are doing things that are in a direct violation of what they have been told to do.”

Borrello, Assemblyman Andrew Goodell and Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel, while criticizing the Brooks-TLC administration, also pleaded for time. All are hopeful a new provider could come to the facility to treat behavioral health conditions in this region.

“If you’re not capable of meeting the needs of this community, work with us to find someone who can and who will so that we have that continuity of care,” Goodell said.

Just who is calling the shots in these major decisions remains unclear. While Brooks is being overseen by a board of directors, it has a management agreement with Kaleida Health. Mary LaRowe, president and chief financial office, is filling that position as a Kaleida employee.

Others highlighted on a banner at the event who serve on the board include: Christopher Lanski, chair; Dr. James Wild; Louis DiPalma, treasurer; Dr. Dana Anderson; Andrew Burr; the Hon. Timothy Cooper; and Christina Jimerson.

One thing remains clear: Whoever is defying orders from Albany is putting future state funding at risk. That would include the nearly $70 million being set aside for a new Brooks Memorial Hospital in Fredonia.

In addition, the state has been subsidizing both Lakeshore and Brooks to the tune of more than $25 million or more since 2016. Both locations lost a combined $20 million in 2019.

Union members at the rally also confirmed that patients were removed from the behavioral health unit and said many items were being thrown in dumpsters behind the building. “Anything like that is wasteful,” Borrello said. “Let’s face it, they are operating under taxpayers’ money. Every single person here is financially supporting this hospital and there needs to be accountability for that.”

Closure of the Lakeshore campus was first announced in early December by the Brooks-TLC System. While the state Health Department approved the plan, the state Office of Mental Health has not.

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