Global Vascular

Article by Matthew L. Brown

The effort to transform Buffalo into a world-class health care destination took a major step forward as Kaleida Health and the University at Buffalo broke ground for a new 10-story global vascular institute and research building.  This initiative will make the City of Buffalo a destination place for those who seek superior health care treatment.  The employment and business creation spin-off of this regional health gem will bolster our local economy in this challenging economy. 

The $291-million combined facility, to be located next to Buffalo General Hospital, will bring together Kaleida Health physicians and UB researchers in a collaborative effort to deliver state-of-the-art clinical care, produce major breakthroughs on the causes and treatment of vascular disease and spin-off new biotechnology businesses and jobs.

“This groundbreaking marks a new era for health care delivery in Western New York,” said James R. Kaskie, the president and CEO of Kaleida Health.  “Through a physician-led process, we have delivered on reform and, just as important, set the stage to build the preeminent flagship medical center in upstate New York.  Our new global vascular institute is destined to be the heart of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, with improved quality and better access for the patients that we serve.           

In 2007, the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21^st Century, also known as the “Berger Commission,” ordered the closure of Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital.  Kaleida Health decided to shift the hospital’s cardiovascular and stroke-related services to the soon-to-be-built facility next to Buffalo General on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

The building will house four floors of Kaleida Health’s $173 million merger of its cardiac, stroke and vascular operations, plus a new and expanded emergency department.  It will also house research and development facilities, including four floors for UB’s $118 million Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) and a UB Biosciences Incubator. 

When complete, the Kaleida Health-UB facility (including Buffalo General’s tower) will house nearly 600 patient beds, 30 operating rooms, 17 interventional labs for cardiac, vascular and neurosurgical procedures, as well as four CT scanners and four MRI’s.  It is anticipated that the new emergency department will accommodate more than 60,000 visits, while the hospital will discharge nearly 27,000 patients.

Construction is expected to take approximately two years to complete, with doors opening in late 2011.

            Mike Hughes, Kaleida Health Communication Director contributed to this article.