A pair of developments will lead to new beginnings in health-care services at two regional locations in the coming weeks.

In a news release issued Friday, the Brooks-TLC Hospital System Inc. in Dunkirk announced it will cease operation of its primary care services at its Gowanda Urgent Care and Medical Center site on Commercial Street to allow The Chautauqua Center, which is based in both Dunkirk and Jamestown, to become the lead provider. In addition, Brooks-TLC has agreed to sell its Forestville location at Bennett State Road to The Chautauqua Center.

“Overall, it’s a nice win for a couple of communities,” said Ken Morris, president and chief executive officer at Brooks-TLC, regarding The Chautauqua Center’s willingness and ability to take over services at the sites in the future.

Morris said Brooks-TLC and The Chautauqua Center are currently in the process of working to transition patient care to Tri-County Family Medicine without any interruption in services. While Brooks-TLC is discontinuing its primary care operations, the Gowanda Urgent Care site will remain open and continue to provide radiology and imaging, a lab draw resource and physical therapy services that are expected to be expanded.

Current Gowanda Medical Center patients will receive communication soon containing details of the closure as well as information outlining their options to continue as patients of The Chautauqua Center at Tri-County Family Medicine on Center Street in Gowanda, or go elsewhere.

“We have a strong working relationship with The Chautauqua Center,” Morris said. “The collaborative efforts between Brooks-TLC and TCC allows for primary care services in the area to be provided by TCC in the future, ensuring the Gowanda community continued access to excellent health care close to home. One large primary care practice will be a more sustainable model to provide care for years to come.”

Morris also is confident in the Center’s ability to take on the Forestville property. “(That) is one of many steps to improve Brooks-TLC’s financial sustainability and also provides the opportunity to re-establish primary care in that community led by The Chautauqua Center.”

The Chautauqua Center acquired Tri-County Family Medicine Associates in Gowanda as part of a recent merger and intends to expand operations. In recent years, The Chautauqua Center has built state-of-the-art facilities to provide healthcare in underserved areas. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, it must meet a stringent set of requirements, including providing care on a sliding fee scale and operating under a governing board that includes patients.

Brooks-TLC, however, remains in limbo regarding its finances and the building of a new and downsized facility in Fredonia. Despite putting forth a proposal to the state Health Department for a 15-bed facility that would include a helipad, those plans have yet to be approved.

Currently located at 529 Central Ave. in Dunkirk, Brooks-TLC has lost more than $55.2 million from 2016 to 2021, according to a October report done by a commission of four individuals with a background in health care and management. Those losses are being absorbed by New York state.