Lakeside Hospital Closing; Restructuring
By: Amy Young
Updated: February 14, 2013
Lakeside Memorial Hospital in Brockport is clsoing. The emergency department and 60-bed facility will no longer offer inpatient care.
Shayna Loescher gave birth to two of her children here. She also made a couple of visits to Lakeside's emergency room.
"I think it's awfully far. As somebody who used to be an EMT, um I know what it's like on the ambulances. And for a call that may be 30 minutes away from a hospital, I definately am afraid," said Shayna Loescher of Kendall.
The hospital's CEO says a decrease in patient volumes and the need for emergency services led to a 20 million dollar bleed.
"The main overhead expense for any acute care hospital is your emergency department and your inpatient services. And both of those also drive the need for 24-hour imaging services.And 24-hour, seven day a week laboratory services," said Jim Cummings, Lakeside CEO.
The move will also mean layoffs for some of the hospital's more than 380 employees. The CEO is not yet saying how many people will be out of work.
The hospital will reopen as an outpatient diagnostic treatment center providing elective surgery and long-term care.
"It is sad. I was a patient in this hospital when I was young. And my mother is in Beikirch now. I understand how the community feels. And I feel sad for it too, but, what are you going to do," asked Jeanne Maxwll of Hilton.
The New York State Department of Health needs to sign off on the deal likely by April.
