Cayuga Health, Visiting Nurse Service of Ithaca and Tompkins County announce affiliation

ITHACA, N.Y. — Officials from Cayuga Health and Visiting Nurse Service of Ithaca and Tompkins County (VNS) announced that the two organizations have affiliated, effective March 1.

The goal of the affiliation is to connect the health-care services that are delivered in a patient’s home with the medical care delivered at the hospital and outpatient medicalpractices.

“We are very pleased to announce this partnership with Visiting Nurse Service,”Cayuga Health CEO Martin Stallone said in a news release. “Our partnership will provide the foundation for collaboration to build innovative programs in order to further our shared goals and extend our evidence-based practices into the home for the highest quality of care by both organizations.”

Working together as one team enables both organizations to provide patients with seamless experience across the various health-care settings in which a patient may receive services, the release stated.

“As Visiting Nurse Service approaches 40 years of serving our community, growing our impact by partnering with Cayuga Health is an exciting next step,” VNS Board of Directors President Barbara Armstrong said. “Like Cayuga Health, VNS puts our staff and patients first, so we look forward to what the future may bring as we work together.”

“Taking care of our residents in Tompkins County and surrounding areas, and addressing social determinants of health, requires us to develop interdisciplinary community health-care connections,” Cayuga Health Board of Directors Chair Tom LiVigne added.

Formed in 1984, the not-for-profit Visiting Nurse Service provides services to those in need of professional medical care in their home including nursing; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; social work; nutrition; and home health–aide services.

“We know that most patients respond well to care provided in their own home where they are able to maintain their dignity in familiar surroundings and with their oved ones and pets,” VNS Executive Director Sue Ellen Stuart said. “By working together with Cayuga Health, we can both do more to support age-friendly community initiatives and benefit the elderly with enhanced care options.”

Early collaborative efforts between the two organizations for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have shown great success, Cayuga Health Chief Nursing Officer Naph’tali Edge said.

“Providing evidence-based tools and education for patients to monitor their condition at home has improved the chance patients will receive care early, avoiding hospitalization when possible,” Edge said. “VNS and CHS are also developing a community paramedicine program to bring care to more rural underserved patients. In addition, our partnership will enhance connections between patients and community resources, such as transportation, Food Net Meals on Wheels, and more. Providing care and support at home keeps our patients connected to the resources they need for the best health outcomes.”

Cayuga Health operates Cayuga Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital, along with the Cayuga Medical Associates multi-specialty group. Combined, the organization employs more than 2,800 people.