Campaigning for the Local Hospital: Join the Movement
THE CAMPAIGN BEGINS
We've been talking about the decline of healthcare in Bradford and McKean County for a long time. Now we're going to start putting some organized public pressure on the people responsible for the decisions.
The first letter (see below) is going to Donald Boyd, President & CEO of Kaleida Health, on behalf of the Kaleida Health Board of Directors.
The ground rules are simple:
• Facts, not rumors.
• Questions, not personal attacks.
• No harassment or threats.
• Document everything.
• Give Kaleida an opportunity to respond.
• Hold them accountable for the answers they give — or don't give.
We're giving Kaleida 10 business days to respond.
Future letters will be made available so anyone who wants to participate can send their own email. Each letter will focus on a specific issue affecting healthcare in our community.
We're also asking the media to follow this campaign and ask their own questions.
Please cc the following media contacts when you send your email.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
The Bradford Era — s.furlong@bradfordera.com / marcie@bradfordera.com
Olean Times Herald — news@oleantimesherald.com
WESB/WBRR — news@wesb.com
The Buffalo News — citydesk@buffnews.com
WIVB News — newsroom@wivb.com
J² Press — jones2press@gmail.com
If you're with one of these organizations, we welcome you to follow the correspondence, ask questions and report on the answers.
And to everyone participating: keep it factual, keep it civil and keep it persistent.
This isn't about kicking and screaming.
It's about making sure that the people of Bradford and McKean County aren't expected to simply accept the loss of essential healthcare services without asking questions.
The legal and regulatory process will continue. So will the public pressure.
Let's see what answers we get.
Please copy and paste the letter below. Be sure to include the media contacts.
Email:
Snail Mail
Donald J. Boyd, President & CEO
Kaleida Health
100 High Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
Mr. Boyd,
I am writing to you regarding the continuing decline of healthcare services at Bradford Regional Medical Center and the impact those decisions are having on the people of Bradford and McKean County.
I have been following this situation for a long time, and I believe the people of this community deserve some straight answers from Kaleida Health and its Board of Directors.
I understand that there are laws, regulations and established procedures that need to be followed. I have no problem with that. But while those processes move forward, the community does not have to sit quietly.
Kaleida has made it clear that the emergency department and inpatient services at BRMC are gone. **That may be Kaleida's position, but it is not an answer the community should simply be expected to accept.**
These are essential healthcare services for a rural community. If their permanent loss is Kaleida's final position, then the public deserves to understand exactly how that decision was reached, what alternatives were considered, and what Kaleida believes the long-term consequences will be for Bradford and McKean County.
We are going to continue pursuing this through the appropriate legal and governmental channels. But we are also going to make sure the public knows what has happened, what decisions have been made, and who made them.
This will be factual, documented and persistent. It will include community outreach, media attention and public discussion of Kaleida's role in the decline of healthcare services in Bradford and McKean County.
That isn't "kicking and screaming." It's what happens when a community believes it isn't being heard.
I am requesting a written response within **10 business days of your receipt of this letter** addressing Kaleida's long-term plans for BRMC and, specifically, whether Kaleida is willing to consider any pathway that could restore meaningful emergency and inpatient healthcare services to this community.
The people of Bradford and McKean County deserve more than to be told that these services are simply gone forever.
I am sending a copy of this correspondence to the Kaleida Health Board of Directors and to local and regional media because this is a matter of significant public interest.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
McKean County, Pennsylvania
