SCHENECTADY, NY (WRGB) — A rally in Schenectady spotlighted a growing dispute between St. Peter’s Health Partners and Ellis Medicine over cardiology services and non-compete clauses, as community members and elected officials voiced concerns about the future of patient care.
Schenectady County Legislator Michelle Ostrelich, who co-organized the rally, criticized the enforcement of non-compete provisions tied to cardiology employment contracts with St. Peter’s Health Partners.
“If they weren’t enforcing the non-compete that they put into those cardiology employment contracts, we wouldn’t be here. And how dare they try and enforce a non-compete against 27 cardiologists,” Ostrelich said.
Several elected officials also rallied with the community, Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara calling for support of his proposed legislation banning non-compete agreements in the medical field.
“This bill, the Central Health Care Act, basically says these non-compete agreements, whether they’re signed or not , however they came to be, should not be enforced,” Santabarbara said.
Ellis Medicine responded by thanking the community and elected officials for their support and said continuity of care will remain in place into 2027…