By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Erie County Medical Center has taken the first major step in changing the way it conducts business.
County Executive Joel Giambra says ECMC has agreed to join the Western New York Purchasing Alliance. It's a purchasing agreement recently formed by Kaleida Health and the Catholic Health System. The collaboration allows the hospital systems to share in the buying of medical supplies, equipment and drugs, while saving tens of million of dollars.
Giambra says the money saved at ECMC would be redirected into the hospital and its patients.
"This is hopefully the beginning of an opportunity in which we can all sit down and begin to better rational how we provide health care services in this community." Giambra said. "I think all three partners right now believe there is a better way to do it then way we are doing it."
Giambra says the county is committed to making ECMC a "viable" player in the health care industry. ECMC's Interim CEO, Roger Kaiser, says this is an effort to improve the level of heath care in the region.
"This is the first time that the three health care systems in Western New York have done something positive for the betterment of health care," Kaiser said.
Kaleida CEO William McGuire says ECMC's participation in the purchasing agreement is a strong statement that collaboration is key to progressive health care -- not competition.
"This venture will truly save tens of millions of dollars annually," McGuire said. "Think of it not just as a savings to the organizations, but a savings to the people of Buffalo."
McGuire says the purchasing alliance will save Kaleida more $9 million a year. County officials expect ECMC to save about $1.5 million. Catholic Health representatives say they don't have an exact number but expect a "significant savings."