A.l. Lee To Stay Open For Another Year

FULTON (June 27, 2008)—State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine said Friday that the state Department of Health has renewed A.L. Lee Memorial Hospital's operating certificate through June 30, 2009. The extension provides time to negotiate toward operating under another hospital's operating certificate. 

"I'm still optimistic. Making sure all of the people in Oswego County have access to the health care they need is a top priority of mine," Sen. Aubertine said. "This gives A.L. Lee an opportunity to continue working toward an agreement with another hospital and provides enough time for each side to do their due diligence. Lee still has to submit a plan for closure, but this keeps the dialogue open." 

A.L. Lee Memorial had been slated to close June 30 in compliance with a recommendation from the state Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century, or Berger Commission. Earlier this month, A.L. Lee was given an opportunity to preserve certain services if it was able to negotiate a partnership with another hospital to operate under its license. 

"Once again we want to express our thanks to Sen. Aubertine for his efforts to work with the Department of Health to find an alternative to the mandate of the Berger Commission," said Richard B. Abbott, chairman of the A. L. Lee Memorial Board of Directors.