UPDATE, Sept. 17, 2026 @ 7:55 p.m.: This story was updated to include a comment from a LECOM spokesperson.
The Pavilion, a long-term care facility at the former hospital in Bradford will close on or before December 1, according to Kaleida Health officials.
The Pavilion was originally scheduled to close around May. Earlier this year, Kaleida officials submitted a closure notice for the nursing facility and the hospital to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, pointing to escalating financial pressures.
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, or LECOM, had been in talks to acquire parts of the hospital and the nursing facility. But, in a Sept. 8 meeting, LECOM's Board of Directors voted not to acquire any of the medical campus, according to a Kaleida Health press release. Kaleida officials did not say why LECOM is pulling out of discussions.
“We understand how deeply personal this is for our residents, their families and our employees,” said Don Boyd, the CEO of Kaleida Health. “For many residents, The Pavilion is their home. For our employees, it is a place where they have cared for people they know and love. We recognize that a transition like this brings uncertainty, concern and emotion, and we will do everything we can to support those who are affected.”
Kaleida officials say there are currently 45 residents living in The Pavilion, and that they'll work with families to find alternative care.
A Kaleida spokesperson also said they'll continue to provide ambulatory services.
A spokesperson for LECOM said in an emailed statement to WPSU that they invested "significant" time, resources and diligence when considering the transaction with Kaleida.
"Through that process, we identified substantive regulatory considerations and unresolved matters related to Kaleida Health's operational positions that could not be reconciled within the framework required for LECOM Health to move forward responsibly," said James Lin, the president of the LECOM Institute for Successful Living.
Rep. Martin Causer, whose district includes Bradford, said in a statement on social media that Kaleida Health did not negotiate in good faith.
"At a recent meeting with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Kaleida Health notified LECOM they now refuse to the sell the building to them," Causer said. "They alternatively stated that they might lease the building, but LECOM would have to accept a noncompete agreement in perpetuity. This would effectively ensure that BRMC would never again operate as a hospital."
Causer said community leaders are continuing to explore alternatives for care, such as an outpatient emergency department or the construction of a micro-hospital.
