The Olean (N.Y.) Common Council unanimously approved a measure asking Olean General Hospital and its parent, Buffalo, N.Y.-based Kaleida Health, to revisit contract negotiations with Olean-based Southern Tier Anesthesiologists, the Olean Times Herald reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. The council said the symbolic measure passed Aug. 28 was "a line in the sand" intended to help keep jobs local.
2. In August, Olean General Hospital announced its decision to switch providers. Buffalo-based anesthesia provider Great Lakes Anesthesiology was awarded the contract after offering the hospital a lower sealed bid.
3. Dozens of people attended the council meeting and expressed support for STA, which has been OGH's anesthesia provider for 24 years.
4. "It's my hope my family and the families of our colleagues will be able to stay and continue helping the people we care about," Allegany resident Megan Russell said at the meeting.
5. Ms. Russell and her husband, STA's Spencer Russell, MD, moved to the area from California. With Olean switching providers, she said, "I don't know where we'll be a year from now."