Kaleida, Brooks-TLC partnership takes next step
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Kaleida Health has announced another transition to strengthen its alignment with the Brooks-TLC Hospital System Inc.
In a news release issued Monday, Kaleida Health said it has officially become the sole member and passive parent of Brooks-TLC Hospital as well as Bertrand Chaffee Hospital in Springville, a move that is designed to strengthen and enhance healthcare for residents in Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Wyoming counties.
The passive parent model allows Brooks-TLC Hospital and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital to retain oversight and control of their day-to-day operations, finances and services. Kaleida Health will offer administrative and financial guidance, support key service lines, and help guide policies and strategic direction of the hospitals. This transition will help create scale, efficiencies and sustainability for both hospitals.
"The alignment with Kaleida Health is a strategic and proactive initiative that continues our efforts to secure and enhance healthcare for Chautauqua County residents well into the future," said Ken Morris, president of Brooks-TLC Hospital.
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital, Brooks-TLC Hospital and the future Northern Chautauqua Hospital will also have greater coordination of care with Erie County Medical Center Corporation's (which works closely with Kaleida Health) centers of excellence in behavioral health and transplantation, along with adult level one trauma care.
As part of this passive parent model, the Brooks-TLC Hospital and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Boards of Directors will consist of Kaleida Health's Chief Operating Officer Kelly Corbi, Chief Financial Officer Hugh Chisholm and Executive Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships Matthew Drake. The outgoing Boards of Directors will transition from their roles as part of the integration process, marking the culmination of their dedicated service and leadership during a pivotal time for both hospitals.
"We want to thank the outgoing Brooks-TLC Hospital and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Boards of Directors for their enthusiastic support, partnership and collaboration throughout this process," said Don Boyd, president and CEO of Kaleida Health. "The boards' steadfast advocacy, vision for the future of healthcare in our region and shared commitment to continued access to high-quality care have been instrumental in moving these transitions forward and making them a reality."
"This model maintains the legacy and unique community identity of Brooks-TLC Hospital while supporting system-wide alignment, standardization, growth and investment in our community's healthcare needs," said outgoing Brooks-TLC Hospital Board Chair Christopher Lanski. "Just as important, we can collaborate and enhance care locally, while improving access to Kaleida Health's award winning programs and services. This is another great win for the community. We remain fully committed to preserving healthcare in our region and engaging the community in support of the new hospital and reuse of the current hospital campus."
A key piece of ensuring alignment included Brooks-TLC Hospital's recent transition to a new electronic health record system using Epic software, which happened alongside Kaleida Health's go-live with Epic on May 30 of this year. Brooks-TLC Hospital also transitioned to Infor for its finance, supply chain and human resources functions along with Kaleida Health. To better coordinate care throughout the healthcare system, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital will also transition to Epic and Infor in the future.
As previously announced, the Northern Chautauqua Hospital - which will replace the current Brooks-TLC Hospital located in Dunkirk - is under construction at 412 E. Main St., Fredonia. The new location will provide enhanced access to all Northern Chautauqua County residents; new technology; medical exam, consultation and treatment space; and a helipad for emergency transfers, ensuring a higher level of care.
Construction on the new $223 million hospital in Fredonia began earlier this spring. The 133,000-square-foot, single-story hospital will be built on a 30-acre site and is expected to serve more than 260,000 patient visits annually.
The facility will include 15 medical-surgical beds, a 16-bay emergency department, five observation beds, operating and procedure rooms, imaging services, a helipad, and primary and specialty care clinics.
A celebration ceremony for the new Northern Chautauqua Hospital will be held this month.