The New York State Department of Health Public Health and Health Planning Council's establishment committee last week voted to approve Kaleida Health's active parent model with Eastern Niagara Hospital.
The contingent approval is expected to be voted on by the full public health and health planning council at its regularly scheduled meeting in April.
"It's another step forward toward tighter alignment between our two hospital systems," said Jody Lomeo, president and CEO of Kaleida Health. "Our goal is to strengthen and enhance health care in Niagara County. It's all about serving our patients and the community in a better and more meaningful way."
Lomeo and members of his executive team have spent time at Eastern Niagara over the past few weeks outlining the relationship while meeting with physicians, nurses, management, front line staff, community leaders, paramedics, EMTs, volunteer firefighters, elected officials and more.
Under terms of the proposal, Kaleida Health will become the active parent of Eastern Niagara Hospital. Eastern Niagara Hospital Lockport and Newfane sites, ENH Ambulatory Care Center/Lockport Imaging Center and the Western New York Occupational Health Center will all become part of the Kaleida Health family.
It is not a merger. ENH will remain a separate legal entity with a separate advisory board of directors that will develop recommendations to Kaleida Health's board, which will have ultimate responsibility for Eastern Niagara Hospital.
The board of directors at the respective health systems approved the agreement in late 2017.
Lomeo said the active parent model will allow for seamless access to Kaleida Health's award-winning programs and services. It will also allow for collaborative opportunities in telemedicine, physician recruitment, marketing, clinical education, information technology and purchasing.
"A great example of how we can be better, together," he said.
By affiliating with Kaleida Health, Eastern Niagara is now better equipped to coordinate care.
Patients in the eastern Niagara Region will have access to appropriate care locally and be seamlessly transitioned to the tertiary network at places such as the Gates Vascular Institute, Buffalo General Medical Center and Oishei Children's Hospital. Eastern Niagara will also have greater coordination of care and enhanced partnerships with Erie County Medical Center (a partner of Kaleida Health) and their centers of excellence in behavioral health and transplantation, along with adult level one trauma care.
Eastern Niagara's plan to build a new emergency department continues to move forward and will be done with the support of Kaleida Health. The plan is to build a new, 21,000-square-foot facility near the East Avenue entrance of the 134-bed hospital. The $8.2 million project calls for 16 private treatment rooms.
The two health systems are working together to develop a full vision, plan and strategy for the eastern Niagara County community. The process includes communication, community engagement, as well as physician and employee participation to ensure the Niagara community's health care needs are met.
