50 Erie County Medical Center 1978-Present ECMC rehabilitation: greater challenges, more survivors. One of the most important aspects of any medical procedure or extensive treatment is recovery and rehabilitation. Since the time of Meyer Memorial Hospital, there has always been a rehab program at the medical center. In fact, ECMC’s is the oldest existing rehabilitation program in the Western New York area. At ECMC, patients have access to two kinds of rehab: acute neuro rehab, which is rehabilitation for neurological problems such as spinal core injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or stroke; and acute medical rehab for issues that are not neurologic such as fractures, cardiac problems, or pneumonia. Neuro rehab treatment began here with the spinal cord injury program in the late 1970s and the head injury program in the early 1980s. The neuro rehab programs evolved when better acute trauma care was developed at ECMC. In fact, the Acute Neuro Rehab unit was Western New York’s first all-inclusive acute medical rehab service for neurogenic disorders. ECMC treats the most severely injured patients, yet has rehab outcomes that are comparable to or better than the national average. The mission of the rehab team is to assist patients in regaining their maximum functional potential for successfully resuming their lives. Restructuring for greater efficiency. In 1996, Erie County residents voted to consolidate the Erie County Home and the Erie County Home Care Agency into the ECMC Healthcare Network. In 2004, the ECMC Healthcare Network became an autonomous health system as a not-for-profit public benefit corporation—no longer a division of county government—and was renamed the Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC). As an independent corporation, it gained the ability to engage in potential revenue-generating joint ventures with physician groups and other health care organizations to enhance patient care. In 2008, in an effort to make health care more efficient, improve quality, avoid duplication of medical services and make them more accessible, New York State required that ECMCC and Kaleida Health join forces. The result was the creation of an integrated health system under the banner of the Great Lakes Health System of Western New York. The largest health care network in the region, Great Lakes Health System also includes the University at Buffalo and The Center for Hospice & Palliative Care. Coinciding with ECMC’s change of status to a public benefit corporation in 2004 and its subsequent partnership in Great Lakes Health, the hospital began a dramatic financial comeback. Within two years, expenses were down and revenues had significantly increased. By 2008, ECMC showed a surplus revenue and by 2012 the Center for Rehabilitation Services. Photos courtesy Wagoner Photography. “I was told 17 doctors were on my case Every single one had a hand in saving my life. What stands out in my experience at ECMC is the care received by my family, my wife, and myself. They definitely went above and beyond. Seeing how injured I was, they just took great, great care of me. I’m so grateful for everyone at that hospital and how well they’ve taken care of me. And they continue to check on me. I love it.” --Mark Reed, Firefighter, Patient