Physician shortage drives New York medical group to close 3 centers, cut 202 jobs

Ayla Ellison -

Lifetime Health Medical Group, a medical practice with nine locations in Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y., will close three health centers and lay off 202 employees.

The medical group said it will close all three of its health centers in Buffalo — Amherst Health Center, Hamburg Health Center and William E. Mosher Health Center — on Dec. 31. 

"With the closing, regrettably, 202 staff positions will also be eliminated," a Lifetime Health spokesperson told WKBW. "We are deeply sorry to make this change for both our employees and the patients we serve."

In a statement to Buffalo Business First, the medical group said it is shutting down the health centers due to a continued shortage of primary care physicians.

"Recognizing any further physician departures would jeopardize the group's ability to meet the demand for patient care, Lifetime Health requested and received approval from the New York State Department of Health to close the centers," read the statement.

Lifetime Health Medical Group sold the pharmacies at the three health centers to Rite Aid, and Rite Aid will close those pharmacies by Oct. 25.

The medical group sent closure notification letters Monday to patients who received care at the any of the three health centers in the past three years.

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