Buffalo, N.Y.-based Kaleida Health is moving forward with plans to close The Pavilion, a long-term care facility in its former Bradford (Pa.) Regional Medical Center on or before Dec. 1. The closure comes after a proposed acquisition by Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine fell through.
The Pavilion serves 45 residents and has 80 employees, according to a Sept. 17 news release shared with Becker’s. Kaleida said its top priority is to support resident health and safety during the transition. Staff will work with residents and their families to find alternative care. There are two other long-term care facilities in Bradford and six additional facilities in the area.
Kaleida also plans to help affected employees find other jobs within the system, including Olean General Hospital.
The system first filed a closure notice Feb. 16 for its inpatient, emergency and long-term care services due to ongoing pressures that made operating The Pavilion unsustainable financially.
The plan was approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Health with a closure date of May 2. However, in late February, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine began discussions for a potential acquisition of the former Bradford Regional campus. The closure plan was temporarily paused to explore if an agreement could offer a sustainable path forward for the hospital campus.
The negotiations occurred for months, but the LECOM board of directors voted Sept. 8 to not move forward with the transaction. Kaleida was made aware of the decision on Sept. 9, and the two parties have ended discussions.
Kaleida Health has now moved forward with a closure plan for The Pavilion, which was resubmitted and accepted Sept. 14 by the Pennsylvania DOH.
With no acquisition in place, Kaleida Health resubmitted its original closure plan to the state on Sept. 14. The facility now has an anticipated closure date of on or before Dec. 1.
“We understand how deeply personal this is for our residents, their families and our employees,” Don Boyd, CEO, Kaleida Health, said in the release. “For many residents, the Pavilion is their home. For our employees, it is a place where they have cared for people they know and love. We recognize that a transition like this brings uncertainty, concern and emotion, and we will do everything we can to support those who are affected.”
