NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of 532 hospitals nationwide — and just 27 in New York State — with a zero rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). The recognition adds to a sustained patient-safety achievement at Memorial, which has been CAUTI-free since 2023. A CAUTI is an infection that can occur when a urinary catheter is used during a patient’s care. Preventing these infections is an important patient-safety priority because they can lead to additional complications, discomfort and longer hospital stays. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our nurses, physicians, infection prevention, quality and frontline teams who work every day to provide high-quality care,” said Komal Chandra, PhD, Vice President of Quality and Corporate Compliance at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. “This is important news for both our staff and the community because it is a tangible measure of patient safety and the quality of care we provide,” said RPS Bajwa, MD, FIDSA, Chief Medical Officer at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. “It demonstrates the sustained efforts of our healthcare teams to prevent avoidable harm and complications, while also giving our staff and community another reason to be proud of NFMMC. I would also like to extend special thanks to Branden Simone, our Director of Infection Prevention, for his leadership, dedication and continued focus on infection prevention and patient safety.” The Becker’s list is based on data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), using infection measures developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The datacovers October 2024 through September 2025. You can read the full article here: 532 hospitals with the lowest CAUTI rates

Major changes to Medicaid will take place at the start of next year. The introduction of mandatory work or community requirements may be difficult to navigate for some Medicaid recipients, and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is working to help develop a coordinated system for referring members to education programs, job training, and job placement assistance. On Wednesday, September 23 rd , 2026 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. the hospital is hosting a Medicaid Collaborative to discuss the changes coming to Medicaid in 2027 . Our goal is to connect with local organizations to make sure they are aware of the changes and also to see if they might be able to provide Medicaid recipients with employment or volunteer opportunities. Without those opportunities, some people may lose their Medicaid benefits. The agenda for this week’s meeting in the hospital’s auditorium is below. We invite you to come learn more and connect with hospital and community leaders. Niagara Medicaid Collaborative Agenda Wednesday, September 23, 2026: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Welcome : Joseph A. Ruffolo, President and CEO, Niagara Falls Memorial Introductions: Sheila K. Kee, Executive Director, Special Initiatives (5 minutes) Overview of New Medicaid Work and Community Engagement Rules Bridget Bartolone, SNAPCAP Executive (10 minutes) Ripple Effect: Impact of Medicaid Work & Community Engagement Rules Broderick Cason, Community Engagement & Program Manager, Univera (10 minutes) Navigating New Medicaid Rules: Role of Medicaid Managed Care Plan Danielle Gare, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, Highmark (5 minutes) Kathy Messer, Vice President, State Products, Independent Health (5 minutes) Andrew Spadoni, Sr. Director, Marketing Strategy, MVP Health Plan (5 minutes) Stronger Together: Benefits of Volunteering Catherine Shick, Chief Communication Officer, FeedMore WNY (5 minutes) Mark Baetzhold, Ex. Director/Kristina Daloia, Hospitality Program Mgr. Heart. Love and Soul (5 minutes) Establishing and Tracking Volunteer Opportunities for Medicaid Members Sheila Kee (5 minutes) Workforce and Training Pathways Gerald J. Cracknell, Executive Director, WorkSource One (10 minutes) Question and Answer Session (15 minutes) Next Steps for Niagara Medicaid Collaborative: Bridget Bartolone/Sheila Kee ( 10 minutes)

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center is pleased to welcome Aaron B. Hoffman, MD, FACS, a highly accomplished general and minimally invasive surgeon, to its surgical services team. Dr. Hoffman is now seeing patients and accepting new patients at Memorial, expanding access to advanced surgical care for residents throughout Niagara County. A Buffalo native, Dr. Hoffman brings more than 20 years of clinical, academic and leadership experience. He earned his medical degree from the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, where he also completed his general surgery residency and served as Chief Resident. He later completed an accredited fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at North Shore–Long Island Jewish Hospital. Dr. Hoffman has held several leadership roles in academic medicine, including Division Chief of General Surgery, Program Director of a Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship and Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University at Buffalo. His clinical expertise includes foregut surgery, abdominal wall reconstruction, hernia repair, and advanced laparoscopic and robotic procedures. Dr. Hoffman has also led research focused on barriers to healthcare delivery among underserved and minority communities and is committed to improving access to surgical services for patients throughout Niagara County. “We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hoffman to Niagara Falls Memorial,” said Joseph A. Ruffolo, President & CEO. “His depth of experience, his commitment to surgical excellence, and his passion for patient-centered care make him an outstanding addition to our medical staff.”  Dr. Hoffman is now accepting new patients. To schedule an appointment, call (716) 278-4000.