You will see many smiles and handshakes in the news in the coming weeks as Guthrie prepares to cut the ribbon on its new, state-of-the-art Guthrie Corning Hospital in East Corning, just off Interstate 86 at the west end of state Route 352.

There is an open house from noon to 3 p.m. June 29 and the hospital opens on July 12.

But after after all the back-slapping and cheering is over, this is the reality facing patients:

The beautiful new building and the latest, greatest technology don’t mean anything if the quality of care administered by the doctors and nurses doesn’t improve.

In the many medical malpractice cases we have handled against the Corning Hospital and the Guthrie system, the cases have never been about inadequate facilities or equipment. They have been about miscommunication, no communication, overworked staff, under staffing, mistakes, misdiagnosis, surgical errors, medication errors, failure to investigate, failure to diagnose, failure to supervise, and failure to use common sense.

A new address and a new building won’t do anything to change the problems that lead to patients being injured by the facility they trust to care for them.

At the Ziff Law Firm, we will be watching carefully for new signs of better care and communication at the new hospital.  In the meantime, we will continue to hold the hospital and its staff responsible when their mistakes injure and kill people.  It is only when they are held responsible for their mistakes that change will occur.

Unless there is a change of culture at the new Guthrie Corning Hospital, the only thing they will be changing is the location.

Thanks for reading.
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ZiffLaw Attorney, Esq.
NY and PA Injury and Malpractice Attorney
The Ziff Law Firm, LLP
303 William Street
Elmira, NY  14901
Phone: (607)733-8866
Fax: (607)732-6062
Email: info@zifflaw.com