Lecom Acquires Corry Memorial Hospital

CORRY---It's 75,000 square feet of hospital but Corry Memorial is struggling to fill beds. 
"People don't want to come to Corry," says CMH President and CEO Barb Nichols.
At an incorporators meeting Tuesday night, Nichols teared up as she addressed some of the hospitals biggest supporters.
After months of research and analysis, the hospital will sign a definitive deal with Lecom to help boost patient intake and the amount of doctors and specialists on hand.
"We are not as busy as we need to be to be viable," Nichols adds. "We had different discussions with them, it just made sense. They have doctors."
Without doctors, Operating and ER Rooms are empty and patients have to go elsewhere for specialized care.

CMH Board President Ernie Ferro wants to change that.
"We'll have more high quality physicians and I think we'll be able to expand the services that we can offer in the Corry area so that people don't have to go to Pittsburgh, Erie, Cleveland or wherever to get the services that they need," Ferro says.

There have been lots of changes at the hospital over the years. It became a Critical Access Hospital 10 years ago and government funds from that switch, prompted the opening of a brand new state of the art facility.

Nicols says when choosing an affiliate, she knew her relationships with both UPMC and the Allegheny Health Network would be tarnished if she chose one side over another. 
"Both are insurance companies,: Nichols says. "We have people in both courts so Lecom seemed to be a very good decision for us and the fact that they have doctors available and ready to come to Corry."
The Attorney General must approve the agreement. Nichols does not plan to layoff any workers.