CHILD'S SEEKS TIES WITH MERCYCARE ALBANY HOSPITAL COULD GET LOWER PRICES ON SUPPLIES.(BUSINESS)

Byline: JAMES DENN Business writer

ALBANY Child's Hospital officials announced Wednesday that they are working on a plan to affiliate their health care operation with Mercycare Corp., the parent company of St. Peter's Hospital.

Stephen J. Lauko, chief executive officer of Child's, said that affiliating with a major medical hospital like St. Peter's is a must in today's increasingly competitive health care industry. Child's is tiny compared to other hospitals. With only 20 beds, the Hackett Boulevard hospital specializes in medical procedures such as eye surgery that require short-term stays. St. Peter's has 447 beds.

``We need a larger player …