A meeting of the Save Our Hospital group on Tuesday garnered lots of discussion on the future of healthcare in the community.

Betsy Costello, one of the group’s organizers, led the discussion, much of which came from several women whose careers were spent in healthcare.

Lynette Carll, who explained she worked in healthcare in Bradford for 45 years, said, “healthcare has changed dramatically in 45 years. healthcare is moving to more outpatient services. We need to look at where healthcare is going and where do we fit in that picture.”

Costello added that Bradford Regional Medical Center has always provided more than just healthcare for the community. She mentioned education services, the cafeteria and support for emergency drills at local facilities. “They provide support for our families. Yes, our hospital is important.”

Marty Wilder, another of the organizers, mentioned that BRMC had once been in the top of the largest employers in McKean County.

Costello asked those in attendance what services the community could support, which led to discussion about creating a community needs assessment. Another question of import would be where have locals sought healthcare services out of town, and why, she added.

“What has happened to your healthcare since January?” she asked. Several spoke up with negative stories, some because of COVID and others because of a perceived lack of organization at Upper Allegheny Health System.

In her opening remarks, Costello told of stories she had heard about ambulances parking in the lot waiting to be able to take patients into the facilities.

One nurse in attendance said it isn’t just a local issue. “This is happening all over the country right now with COVID.”

What exactly are people looking for?

Marsha Keller, who had worked at Kane Community Hospital before it became a UPMC facility, summed it up — “We want comprehensive, quality healthcare in our community provided by people in our community.”

Costello brought up telemedicine, and asked whether people believed it could be used more locally. She explained she sees a specialist via telemedicine, and added, “Telemedicine could make such a difference.”

She recounted a conversation she had with an Upper Allegheny Health System board member about telemedicine. The board member said, “We have it.”

Anne Hardy, former director of the emergency department at BRMC, said the service may be available, but it isn’t advertised to the extent it should be. “People might be more willing to stay here if they have access to specialists.”

Keller said there are homes in her neighborhood that are selling quickly to people from out of the area. “They aren’t going to stay if there isn’t a viable hospital here. What happens when they need healthcare?”

Costello said that right now, UAHS hospitals are in a “holding pattern.” Interim CEO Mary LaRowe “is a placeholder. In a meeting with her, she looked like a deer in the headlights. She didn’t know what was going on here.

“She is retiring on Dec. 31 of this year,” Costello added. “They say they are in a search for a new CEO. They hope to have that person in place in March. What about the beginning of the year?”

The group has had discussions — or has discussions planned — with officials from UPMC, from Warren General Hospital and from Penn Highlands. Costello asked what the group thought of what might be the right fit.

“All of your large healthcare systems have their faults. You have to realize as you line up with these systems … it’s a bit of a monopoly,” Carll said. “The UPMC system insurance company is really not easy to work with for going out of network. The Highmark system is much better with it. We need to keep that in mind.”

Costello said they need to develop a consensus of what the community wants and what it needs to decide the best route forward.

“We have to look at what’s supporting our community with basic, quality services,” Hardy said.

Carll said one advantage to considering Allegheny Health Network and UPMC is that both systems are Pennsylvania-based. “One of the problems we’ve had with getting doctors to come here (from the Kaleida Health System affiliation with UAHS) is that most don’t have Pennsylvania licenses.”

Costello said the Save Our Hospital group started because they were concerned citizens who want better for their community.

“I have a strong voice that I think we can bring together people here and we can put together what we want. When we have these conversations (with healthcare systems) we can speak for our communities,” she said.

One person in attendance asked how to get leverage in the discussions.

Costello answered simply, “Community pressure. A strong voice from our community and conversation from people who are willing to take us on.”

Wilder urged people to stay involved, to continue to use their voices to bring about change.