Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), a member of Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), posted a surplus of $2,078,035 in 2014. The announcement was part of Wednesday’s presentation at the Bradford Club by Timothy J. Finan, President and CEO of BRMC and Upper Allegheny Health System, before an audience of more than 100 community members at the hospital’s Annual Meeting. Finan reported the surplus on hospital revenues of $70,826,456 in 2014. It was the fourth consecutive year BRMC has posted an operating surplus. Finan said the four years of surpluses came after several consecutive years of losses by the hospital prior to the formation of Upper Allegheny Health System. “The formation of Upper Allegheny Health System has provided $4 million of financial benefit annually to our member hospitals,” Finan said in a news release provided to WESB. “Had it not been for the formation of UAHS, our hospitals would no doubt be in a difficult place today.” While pleased with the re...

OLEAN, NY - Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), parent company of Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center, elected its 2015 Board of Directors Officers at the organization’s annual meeting January 28. Five Board members were re-elected to three-year terms. The new officers include: Board Chair, Brenda McGee, Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration, St. Bonaventure University; Vice Chair, Muhammed Javed, M.D., Nephrologist at Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center; Secretary, Richard Roupe, Chief Financial Officer, Zippo Manufacturing Company; Treasurer, Martin Digel, President and CEO, Hamlin Bank and Trust. These individuals were also elected as Board officers of Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center. Prior to her election as Board Chair, Ms. McGee served as Vice Chair of the UAHS Board of Directors, Olean General Hospital Board of Directors and Bradford Regional Medical Center Board of Directors. ...

Charges against a man accused of punching a nurse and a doctor at Bradford Regional Medical Center have been bound to McKean County Court following a preliminary hearing this morning. According to records in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office, back in December 23-year-old Chad Reed of Bradford punched a registered nurse in the face several times and gouged her eye, causing swelling and a number of bruises. He also told another nurse he was going to rip her arms off and shove them up her buttocks. The court records also say he punched a doctor in the face, causing a nosebleed and bruising to his nose and lips. Reed also fought with emergency responders before being restrained. His bail is set at $50,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Three people were hurt in a two-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on Looker Mountain Trail near the intersection of routes 246 and 646 in Foster Township. Police say a van driven by 17-year-old Sheldon Foley of Eldred crossed the center line and hit a pickup truck driven by 45-year-old Daryl Quick of Bradford. It took emergency responders about an hour to free Foley and his passenger from the van. Quick, Foley and his passenger, 19-year-old Michael Vancise, also of Eldred, were all taken to BRMC for treatment of moderate injuries. Police are continuing their investigation. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Hearings for one man accused of punching a nurse and a doctor, and another man accused of chasing his brother with a machete, have been scheduled for next month. 23-year-old Chad Reed and 19-year-old Weston Rick, both of Bradford, are set to be in court on January 14. Reed is accused of punching the nurse and doctor, and threatening another nurse, at BRMC early Saturday morning. Rick is accused of threatening to cut his brother’s arms off during an argument about a stolen phone last week. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Olean General Hospital (OGH) and Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC), member hospitals of Upper Allegheny Health System (UAHS), are following the protocols recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The potential for seeing an Ebola patient here in our region is very small, but our first obligation is to protect the public and make any and all preparations. Since early August, all CDC information regarding Ebola has been shared with medical staff and Emergency Department staff, including online educational programs for clinical staff. Since the confirmation of the first Ebola patient in the United States on September 30, hospitals across the country, including OGH and BRMC, have been working closely with public health officials, including CDC, and have been providing important information to physicians and clinical staff. UAHS recognizes that the health threat posed b...

Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) held a ceremony today for 11 graduates of the hospital’s School of Radiography. The event, held at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Student Commons Building, honored Jacob Chastain, Port Allegany, PA, Gannon Creed, and Michelle Jurewicz, Olean, NY, Emily Crowell, Emporium, PA, Kimberly Derk, Cattaraugus, NY, Jenna Gorrell, Lewis Run, PA, Gregory Macfarlane, Bradford, PA, Danielle Plunkett, Great Valley, NY, Mollyann Krupa, St. Marys PA, Thomas Specht, Milton, PA, and Autumn Woods, Limestone, NY. “As a 1984 graduate of the school, I have had the privilege to work with many classes over the years. The class of 2014 has been excellent, both clinically and academically,” said Jeanne Burritt, program director for the BRMC School of Radiology. “Since joining the program, these eleven students have faced many challenges related to several technological advances. Now, as graduates, I can say without hesitation that they are more than pre...

An Olean man is charged with a Leandra’s Law violation and for failure to pay child support after crashing into a concrete barrier near Exit 23 on Interstate 86 Saturday afternoon. Sheriff’s deputies say 38-year-old Bradley Fluent was on the road between exits 21 and 23, which is closed for construction. An 8-year-old passenger was hurt in the crash and was taken to Bradford Regional Medical Center for treatment. Besides the felony driving while intoxicated and child support charges, Fluent is charged with unlicensed operation of a vehicle and disobeying a traffic control device. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford woman accused of trying to punch a doctor and a nurse who were treating her in the BRMC emergency room late Friday night has waived her preliminary hearing, and is out of jail. 32-year-old Angela Wolf, who police say was heavily intoxicated at the time, also threatened a police officer, according to court records. She was charged with assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness and sent to McKean County Jail, but during today’s hearing all parties agreed that she could be released on unsecured bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

A Bradford woman is accused of trying to punch a doctor and a nurse who were treating her in the BRMC emergency room late Friday night. 32-year-old Angela Wolf, who police say was heavily intoxicated at the time, also threatened a police officer, according to court records. She was charged with assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness and sent to McKean County Jail on $5,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Rhonda Pena, MD, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology, will relocate her offices from Boylston Street to Bradford Regional Medical Center’s Women’s Health Services location at 159 Interstate Parkway, Bradford on Wednesday, June 4. She joins Aris Gredzens, MD, OBGYN, and Kimberly Garcia, Certified Nurse Midwife in the Foothills Medical Group at the Interstate Parkway location. Last month, Dr. Pena assumed the care of patients in the office of Abaz Sosic, MD., 54 Boylston Street, Bradford. Following the move the current office phone number, 814-362-9733, will automatically forward to Dr. Pena’s new office. Patients may also call 814-368-7777. Her office will be closed from May 27 to June 3 during the transition. Dr. Pena formerly practiced at Memorial Hospital, York, PA and Clearfield Hospital, Clearfield, PA. Dr. Pena completed her residency at Corzer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA. She is a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologis...

A Bradford man accused of threatening a nursing supervisor at Bradford Regional Medical Center and disrupting the ER’s waiting room has waived his preliminary hearing. Back in January, 38-year-old Slim Lewis was “extremely agitated” about having to wait and caused a loud disturbance in the waiting room, according to court papers. He tore off his ID bracelet, threw it at the registration clerks and then stormed out. He later called to talk to the nursing supervisor, when he yelled and swore at her and threatened to "kick her f***ing ass." Lewis is free on bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford man charged for threatening staff at Bradford Regional Medical Center three times, and also for threatening to blow up a church has waived his preliminary hearings. On the morning of March 2 39-year-old Richard Lewis interrupted a service at Grace Lutheran Church on Mechanic Street by shouting that he was going to blow up the church, according to papers provided to WESB by District Judge Dominic Cercone's office. Several parishioners were able to get him into a private area of the church, and then took him to BRMC. At the hospital, he was screaming profanities, threatening to kill the staff and also threatening to blow up the hospital. Then on the afternoon of March 8 he went to the emergency room and again threatened to blow up the hospital. He also threatened to rip off Dr. Roger LaRoche’s limbs. A third incident at the hospital landed Lewis in jail. His bail is a total of $90,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The Bradford man charged for threatening staff at Bradford Regional Medical Center last week has now been arraigned for the first two incidents involving threats at the hospital, as well as a church. On the morning of March 2 39-year-old Richard Lewis interrupted a service at Grace Lutheran Church on Mechanic Street by shouting that he was going to blow up the church, according to papers sent to WESB by District Judge Dominic Cercone's office. Several parishioners were able to get him into a private area of the church, and then took him to BRMC. At the hospital, he was screaming profanities, threatening to kill the staff and also threatening to blow up the hospital. Then on the afternoon of March 8 he went to the emergency room and again threatened to blow up the hospital. He also threatened to rip off a doctor’s limbs. A similar incident early Friday morning landed Lewis in jail. His bail is a total of $90,000. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

The third time was the not the charm, but the last straw, for a man accused of threatening staff in the BRMC emergency room this month. Early this morning Richard Lewis said he was going to “take … out” the doctor on duty, according to papers sent to WESB by District Judge Rich Luther’s office. The statement, along with Lewis’s tumultuous behavior caused serious inconvenience and diverted the ER from its normal operations. Lewis had been warned by police on March 2 and March 8 to refrain from violent or threatening behavior while in the ER after they had been called because he was out of control and threatening the staff. He’s in McKean County Jail on $50,000 bail. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947

Staff at Bradford Regional Medical Center, along with a city police officer, were threatened last night by a woman whose blood alcohol content was nearly 4 times the legal limit. Police say they went to the Tops parking lot at about 11:45 last night to assist city ambulance personnel and soon determined that Tanya Cornelius of Concord, North Carolina, who will turn 40 on Monday, had been involved in an accident in the Best Western parking lot, where she allegedly hit a parked tractor trailer hauling a car carrier. They say they followed the damage trail to her car in the Tops lot. Police also determined Cornelius was drunk and, when she was in the lab at BRMC for testing, she told police to kill her and attempted to slam her head through a large glass window. She was later taken to the emergency room, where she attempted to kick the nursing supervisor in the head, and made the threats, according to papers filed in District Judge Dominic Cercone’s office. Cornelius is in McKean Cou...

Based on information in the indecent assault cases against Dr. Abaz Sosic the state board of medicine has temporarily suspended his license to practice medicine. In the suspension order dated Friday, and obtained this afternoon by WESB, the board said if the petition filed by Department of State attorney David Grubb is true “the continued practice of medicine by (Sosic) presents an immediate danger to the public health and safety.” A preliminary hearing regarding the suspension will be scheduled within 30 days. The order says that addition to the temporary suspension proceeding Grubb may start a separate action to suspend, revoke or otherwise restrict Sosic’s license. The Order to Show Cause for that may include, but is not limited to, facts alleged in the petition for temporary suspension. Sosic is accused of indecent assault and harassment in two separate cases. The first for which he was charged happened on January 27 in his Boylston Street office with an intern. The second set ...

The Bradford Regional Medical Center Foundation and the Bradford Regional Medical Center Auxiliary which support Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) will hold their Fourth Annual Spring Swing Gala, March 22, 2014 at the Pennhills Club in Bradford, beginning at 5:30 p.m. This unique dinner dance will honor Harry and Kay Halloran of Halloran Philanthropies and the American Refining Group, and Roger R. Laroche, M.D., Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services at BRMC. Harry Halloran purchased the Bradford refinery, American Refining Group (ARG) in 1997. The Halloran story is about entrepreneurship, leadership, social responsibility and impact, corporate good and philanthropy. The ARG refinery is 133 years old and provides a stable influence to its employees, customers and community locally and world-wide. “Through Halloran Philanthropies and ARG, Harry and Kay Halloran have given generously to BRMC and we are most grateful for their generous support,” said Timothy J. Finan, Presi...

Bradford obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Abaz Sosic has been accused of indecent assault against three women – an intern in his office, a co-worker at Bradford Regional Center and a patient. Because of the allegations BRMC has suspended Sosic’s admitting privileges, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the investigation. City police have also requested a search warrant for the hospital. In an affidavit of probable cause asking for the search warrant, police say they “believe there exists enough evidence to show that there are documents and records located at Bradford Regional Medical Center which will show a common plan or scheme. ... this documentation will provide further evidence showing a pattern of Sosic’s misconduct while working at Bradford Regional Medical Center.” The allegations, which date back to 2008, first came to light on Wednesday when police filed misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and harassment against Sosic in connection to an alleged incident on...

A woman accused of trying to steal items from the Bradford Regional Medical Center emergency room has waived her preliminary hearing. 21-year-old Ariel Penn was being treated for an alleged assault when hospital staff believed she and 22-year-old Paige Osborne were stealing items and called police. According to court papers, Penn had hidden a plastic oxygen mask with the hose attached in her underwear. Osborne had 30 packets of triple antibiotic ointment. Both women are free on unsecured bail. Osborne is scheduled to appear in McKean County Central Court next Thursday. The news leader of the Twin Tiers ... since 1947