Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

This is the second time I’ve written these words in connection with the future of Bradford Regional Medical Center.

The hospital, as we all know, has been struggling to survive as a viable entity for more than a year — since even before Kaleida Health Services closed much of the facility so we would use Olean (N.Y.) General Hospital instead.

A few months ago, Dr. Jill Owens, a Bradford physician, was hired to help put this health care system on the right track. It’s a huge lift given chronic financial issues with rural health care, a very skeptical public, and a demoralized (but dedicated) workforce.

Our group, Save Bradford Hospital, met with her last week.

To be crystal clear: Our group wholeheartedly endorses her team’s effort to improve health care services in Bradford and will shout it to the rooftops every chance we get.

Dr. Owens is exploring the possibility of returning some form of minor same-day surgery to Bradford, but cautioned that such a project would be more complicated and expensive than it might seem. We would welcome such a facility but point out it was broached without any financial terms or commitments, no deadlines, no detail.

We applaud her team which is bringing in new physicians, has attacked some of the financial issues plaguing the health care system, and has attempted to streamline services.

But we do have a difference — and it’s crucial. It boils down to the definition of the word, “hospital.”

Dr. Owens made it clear that the facility already in place in Bradford — a full-time ER, 10-20 inpatient beds, and ancillary services such as oncology, lab and X-ray — is a “hospital” adequate for our community given its access to further services just 25 miles away in Olean.

We disagree. While we don’t feel a large hospital (like 20 years ago) is necessary, we believe Bradford is big enough to support some of the many things they have taken away — an ICU, an operating room, and 20 fully-staffed medical beds, and more. A comprehensive care system.

Our idea of a “hospital” would be Warren General, which also has a physician-staffed ER (and even handles pediatric emergencies); a Critical Care Unit (a step down from ICU), maternity; oncology (chemotherapy and radiation); a dental clinic; surgeries to include breast, colon, gallbladder, hernia, biopsy, thoracic, urology and orthopedics. They also provide endoscopy/colonoscopy; detox, and treatment of people with drug addiction issues, and psychiatric needs.

Dr. Owens made it clear that our idea for such a “full-service hospital” would not be financially feasible and, so, could not be supported by her organization.

That left us with one elephant remaining in the room: Olean General, which continues on a regular basis to shock the sensibilities of Bradford area people who expect, at the least, to receive some minimal standard of care and cleanliness and are frequently disappointed. That one star from Medicare? Well-deserved, from what we have heard.

Dr. Owens has been talking to a variety of Bradford people and groups, not just us, asking for the community’s support for her efforts.

What could Dr. Owens do to win the support of the community? Overcome what she called “reputational issues”?

Our advice? First of all, don’t tell people they will be responsible if their supposed “lack of support” causes the effort to fail and the system collapse — a strategy long employed by Kaleida as it developed and implemented this plan. Responsibility for failure was established long ago when Kaleida slammed the door shut on Bradford hospital. To suggest otherwise is a form of emotional blackmail.

Don’t just talk the talk. Walk the walk.

Right now, we know that many Bradford area people are seeking treatment in neighboring hospitals, even in other counties. They continue to be leery of Olean, in particular, and we still hear frequent accounts of inadequate care. Want to start somewhere? Fix Olean.

If and when people regain their trust in Bradford hospital and the entire Kaleida system it will be because they see real, positive changes in their medical care — not just rhetoric — and then they will vote to give their support … They will vote with their feet.

Support is like trust. It’s not something you can demand. You have to earn it.

(Marty Wilder is an organizer of Save Our Hospital in Bradford.)