We are in no way discounting the excitement and energy that comes with the activity on East Main Street at the site of the future Brooks-TLC new hospital. Our newspaper has been a strong advocate for the project through years of reporting and editorials.

Ultimately, we are grateful it is happening. That being said, there needs to be some clarification regarding the county’s health care system.

Two weekends ago, Democratic Chautauqua County Legislators expressed their appreciation for the project in a news release. Those legislators — Bob Bankoski and Marcus Buchanan of Dunkirk, Sandra Lewis of Fredonia and Jamestown’s Tom Nelson, Fred Larson, Vince DeJoy and Bob Whitney — said without the “$74 million in state funding the new hospital would not have been possible.”

That is correct. Later, the legislators stated, “Without a hospital in Northern Chautauqua County, the ability to keep businesses here and to attract new businesses to provide jobs for our people would have been crippled.”

There is no denying the importance of the facility. However, it is worth noting that AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital also serves a large portion of the north county — and is a shining star when it comes to health care.

Like Brooks-TLC, it also has gone through major transitions. Last year, AHN Westfield Memorial Hospital received a designation as a Rural Emergency Hospital from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the state Department of Health.

These hospitals are a new Medicare provider designation established to support struggling rural hospitals, allowing them to continue providing essential services without having to maintain inpatient beds. It was created to prevent hospital closures, maintain access to healthcare in small communities and promote health equity for those living in rural areas.

That is important for the Westfield facility’s future. Just as important, for a population that is becoming smaller, this county is fortunate to have three top-notch care facilities, including UPMC Chautauqua in Jamestown.