By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Doctors at the Erie County Medical Center are speaking out on the proposed merger of ECMC with Kaleida Health. They say they support "a fair and equitable negotiated arrangement" with Kaleida Health that "puts patient care first, not corporate dominance."
Dr. James Evans, who represents more than 400 UB Medical School faculty, says doctors have not come out in favor of any merger plan.
The doctors also say they are not in favor of Albany making decisions about a local hospital merger. They say a merger should be decided by this community.
"As late as Wednesday, our board chair asked Kaleida's board chair to resume negotiations. He was rebuffed," Evans said. "If we want to do what's best for Western New York's patients, why is corporate governance so important to Kaleida? Did that ever save a life?"
Former ECMC trauma patients, such as Buffalo firefighter Mark Reed and Buffalo Police officer Carl Andolina, joined Friday's news conference to voice their concerns about losing the trauma center under a merger.