Keeping with the trend in the health care industry, Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y., and Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls, N.Y., have signed a letter of intent to affiliate, according to a joint news release.
Under the proposed agreement, both hospitals will remain independent but will explore administrative and clinical collaborations. The two will focus first on orthopedics and obstetrics services, and CMC specialists will treat patients at Schuyler Hospital.
The agreement is expected to be finalized in early 2012.
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: John W. Turner, Vice President of Public Relations, Cayuga Medical Center, 607-274-4499; Michelle Benjamin, Director of Community Relations, Schuyler Hospital, 607-210-1950
Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital Sign Affiliation Agreement
December 15, 2011, Ithaca, NY - Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital announced today they have entered into a long-term affiliation agreement that will allow both hospitals to collaborate, plan, and enhance the delivery of health care services in Schuyler County. Both hospitals will continue to remain independent.
As part of the agreement, Schuyler Hospital and Cayuga Medical Center will explore collaborations in a number of support and clinical areas that will be mutually beneficial to both organizations. In addition, they will work together on regional health planning that will meet the current and future health care needs of patients throughout the region.
Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital have already identified two areas of collaboration that will be an immediate focus, orthopedics and obstetrics. Teams from both hospitals have been meeting to develop action plans that will improve access for patients. "Schuyler Hospital shares the same community hospital mission that we have at Cayuga Medical Center. The affiliation agreement will allow us to work together and find solutions to the challenges we face in health care today. We are looking forward to working with their leadership team, physicians, employees, and volunteers to create a comprehensive plan that will deliver the highest quality health care services to the residents of Schuyler County," said Cayuga Medical Center President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rob Mackenzie.
"This an exciting new partnership and new direction for Schuyler Hospital and the residents of this community - one that we expect will bring growth and long-term viability to the hospital in the face of challenging economic times," said Andy Manzer, President and Chief Executive Officer for Schuyler Hospital. "We have been pleased to find that the staff at Cayuga Medical Center shares our passion for compassionate, patient-centered care, and for meeting the needs of our community. By affiliating with Cayuga Medical Center, we are bringing our community access to high quality health services, as well as connections to nationally-recognized care, close-to-home."
Cayuga Medical Center is a 204-bed, state-of-the art regional medical center and is affiliated with many prestigious health care organizations including Cornell University's Weill Medical College, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Rochester Heart Institute at Rochester General Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center Department of Orthopedics, and Mayo Medical Laboratories. For more information on services available at the medical center and its satellite campuses, please visit www.cayugamed.org or call (607) 274-4498.
Schuyler Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital, with a 120-bed skilled nursing facility attached. While Schuyler Hospital's main campus is located in Montour Falls, the hospital has evolved over nearly 100 years to reach throughout Schuyler County and into southern Yates and Seneca Counties. With a variety of services, Schuyler Hospital is a healthcare "security blanket" for the entire family. Schuyler Hospital. We've Got You Covered. To find out more about Schuyler Hospital, visit www.schuylerhospital.org or call (607) 535-7121.
