By Joyce Kryszak
Amherst, NY – The new joint board for Kaleida and the Erie County Medical Center Wednesday announced leadership for the merged organization.
After six weekly negotiations, the board emerged from its meeting room at UB with Robert Gioia taking over the helm as board chairman. He announced that Kaleida President James Kaskie was unanimously elected as Chief Executive Officer for the new entity.
ECMC President Michael Young will serve in what Gioia described as a secondary, but critical role. Kaskie said there will be no competition, only collaboration.
That was confirmed by Young - who is credited with ECMC's dramatic financial recovery - but who will now be the number two man in the merged organizzation.
Young said he is not concerned with titles - he wants results.
The details of what that will mean for health care delivery locally will be worked out in a formal memorandum of understanding. The state requires that document be signed by year's end.
In the meantime, the board has filed for not-for-profit status. And it signed a letter of intent that outlines the new leadership and pledges to work toward the MOU. Gioia said that is also critical for obtaining state funding to help with the merger.
Gioia said any changes in patient services at either hospital will not come until those and other details are decided.
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