(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168 is speaking out against Kaleida Health’s proposal to reduce the Medical Rehabilitation Unit (MRU) at Buffalo General Medical Center from 34 beds to 16 beds, a more than 50% cut that would eliminate 22 health care jobs and significantly reduce access to Hospital-based rehabilitation services in Western New York.

The proposal is pending approval from the New York State Department of Health.

Hospital-based MRUs provide intensive rehabilitation for medically complex patients recovering from stroke, neurological injury, cardiac events and other serious conditions.

Union Leaders and Front-Line Health Care Workers warn reducing capacity will lead to delayed transfers, longer hospital stays, increased complications and disruptions in continuity of care.

CWA Local 1168 President Cori Gambini said: “This proposal cuts nearly half of Buffalo General’s rehabilitation beds. You cannot reduce access to hospital-based rehab by (50%) and expect patient need to disappear. This is not just a labor issue - it is a patient care issue for the entire region. When patients are transferred across systems or forced to wait for placement, continuity of care suffers. Transitions are where mistakes happen. Patients deserve stability during recovery, not disruption.”

According to Local 1168, the MRU currently serves an average of 26 to 29 patients per day.

Reducing the Unit to 16 beds would leave eight to 11 patients per day without access to appropriate acute rehabilitation services.

Union Leaders say there is not strong evidence of regional capacity to absorb those displaced patients, with only two other MRUs in the area - at Kenmore Mercy Hospital and at the Erie County Medical Center.

Buffalo General Medical Center Registered Nurse (RN) Joanna Burke said: “As an RN working in rehabilitation, I see firsthand how critical early, intensive therapy is for stroke and medically complex patients. Every day matters. Delays in rehab can mean the difference between going home independently and needing long-term institutional care.”

Rehabilitation Therapists also expressed concern about the long-term impact on recovery outcomes.

“Rehab is not optional - it is essential to restoring function and preventing long-term disability. Thousands of patients with neurological and neurosurgical needs are admitted to (Buffalo General) every year as we are a nationally-accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center and we have world-renowned Neurosurgeons. Patients have top notch care from the minute they arrive and on the acute floor until they are appropriate for another level of care,” Buffalo General Speech Pathologist Mary Beth Ochs said.

Local 1168 Leaders argue the proposal will not resolve underlying financial challenges and could instead weaken the Hospital’s long-term position by shifting patients - and their follow-up specialty care - to competing Health Systems.

As such, Local 1168 - which is receiving an array of support from Elected Officials, is calling on Kaleida Health and State Regulators to reconsider the reduction and protect access to acute rehabilitation services for patients across the region.

“This is about protecting patient outcomes, protecting health care jobs and protecting the integrity of our Regional Health Care System,” Gambini said. “We are urging decision-makers to prioritize community health over short-term cost-cutting.”

CWA Local 1168 Provided Photo.