Buffalo, N.Y., March 12, 2002 – Bill McGuire, president and chief executive officer of Kaleida Health, and Dr. Steven Lana, representing Women and Children First, the group that commissioned an alternative proposal for Children’s Hospital, issued the following statement at a press briefing this afternoon.

Last night, the Kaleida Health Board of Directors endorsed the formation of an independent, joint working group to study a new proposal from Women and Children First that supports keeping Children’s Hospital at Bryant Street. The report provided new information and recommends improvements to its current Bryant Street campus that will enhance revenue and ensure first-class medical care into the future. The joint working group, which will include equal representation from Kaleida and Women and Children First, will further study the proposal and its implications for both Children’s Hospital and the entire Kaleida system, and present a non-binding recommendation at the earliest possible time to the Kaleida Board. The joint working group will be co-chaired by William Joyce, Kaleida Board Vice Chair, and Dr. Philip Glick, Surgeon-in-Chief at Children’s Hospital, representing Women and Children First.

The Board expressed its commitment to a prudent review of all viable options at the Bryant Street campus before further evaluation of other options. Another option presented to the Board last evening by its consultant was a proposal to build a new Children’s Hospital pediatric ambulatory center on the campus of Buffalo General Hospital as an alternative to its current location at Bryant Street.

McGuire emphasized that Kaleida has not ruled out other options to enhance the mission of Children’s Hospital. "However, we agree that the new plan submitted by the pediatricians yesterday was compelling and warrants thorough consideration," McGuire said.

"After meeting with Women and Children First and reviewing a report prepared by their consultant, Kaleida agrees that it is in the best interest of the community, our patients and our hospital system to step back and study the potential benefits of maintaining and improving Children’s Hospital at its current site on Bryant Street," McGuire said. "Kaleida is committed to finding a fiscally sound solution to enhancing the quality of healthcare for the men, women and children of Western New York. With guidance from this joint working group and community input, Kaleida expects to take action that would serve the best interests of the region."

Dr. Lana stated: "The Women and Children First coalition is grateful for the support that we have received from the community, parents, the union, the doctors and elected officials, and we acknowledge that we wouldn’t be here today without them. I am pleased and encouraged that Kaleida and Women and Children First have agreed to form the joint working group. This is an important step as we strive to enhance Children’s Hospital and its historic mission. The joint working group will move quickly to bring a positive resolution to an issue that has concerned the community for some time."

On March 4, the Kaleida Board voted to delay a decision on the future location of Children’s Hospital in the interest of maintaining a constructive and informative dialogue with the community. As a result, the Board took no action yesterday on any specific facility proposals for Children’s Hospital. Kaleida’s consultant, The Hunter Group of St. Petersburg, Fla., has reviewed many facility options in addition to providing recommendations for operational, clinical and financial improvements throughout the Kaleida system. The Board has previously approved all of the plans, except for the facilities portion. Many of these improvements are currently being implemented. The cornerstone of the clinical improvement plans will enhance adult specialties such as neurosciences, cardiovascular and orthopedics through the creation of clinical Centers of Excellence.

The proposal from Women and Children First recommends a $25 million expansion project at Bryant Street, including a new pediatric ambulatory services building.

"In our vision of independence and excellence for Children’s Hospital within Kaleida, instead of fighting over scarce capital resources, we hope this working group will meet the needs of our patients while increasing Kaleida’s capacity to fund essential adult projects. Rather than continuing a battle that distracts us from patient care, we can redirect community passion into support for Children’s Hospital and needed philanthropy," Dr. Glick commented.

"It is vital we reach a resolution that addresses the needs of the entire Kaleida system and we know them to be both pressing and of high priority," Joyce said. "What’s at stake here is Kaleida’s ability to deliver on its mission of providing the highest quality care to all the men, women and children of Western New York. I am hopeful and optimistic we can arrive at a solution that works for everyone."

McGuire concluded: "Kaleida and Women and Children First share a common commitment to preserving and enhancing first-class healthcare for all children of the region. Now it’s up to us to work together, in cooperation with the joint working group, to make good on that promise."

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Media Contacts:

Women and Children First
James Gillan, Paragon Advertising
716-854-7161

Kaleida Health
Beth Kelly, APR, Collins & Company
716-842-2266, ext 104