by Kristina Gabalski
Lakeside Health System officials say they continue to wait to hear from New York State in regards to their re-organizational plan that includes keeping the Emergency Department open.
Lakeside Interim CEO Jim Cummings says officials from the health system have had several meetings over the past weeks with the New York State Department of Health as well as legislative representatives.
“We don’t have a specific date that we anticipate hearing from New York State regarding our application for funding,” Cummings says. “However, we’re feeling optimistic about how positively State Senator George Maziarz, Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter have supported our application for funding and understand the need to help keep Lakeside open.”
In mid-February, Lakeside announced it would close 61 inpatient beds and shift towards becoming an outpatient diagnostic and treatment center.
Cummings said during a neighborhood meeting hosted by Lakeside February 28, that Lakeside would work to keep its ER open as part of the plan and keep five beds available for emergency admissions/observation.
