Cayuga Medical Center, Family Health Network announce collaboration agreement for clinical care

HOMER, N.Y. — Cayuga Medical Center of Ithaca and the Family Health Network (FHN) of Central New York, Inc. have announced they plan to collaborate “to advance clinical care throughout the region.”

Both organizations will “continue to operate independently and engage in other projects with regional partners, but will collaborate on clinical services, regional planning, and community outreach,” according to a joint news release.

 “The Cayuga Health System mission is focused on furthering the ability of its member health-care organizations to honor their community based missions by providing high quality, patient centered care. We have a long history of collaborating with Family Health Network that spans many years. We share the same vision of providing high quality health-care services to all segments of our community,” John Rudd, president & CEO of Cayuga Health System, said in the release.

About their collaboration

The clinical collaboration will “improve access and clinical continuity” for Family Health Network patients seeking specialty services at Cayuga Medical Center for cardiac, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, and orthopedic services.

In addition, Cayuga Medical Center will be able to work with Family Health Network to help patients without a primary-care provider locate one within FHN or another organization, “depending on patient choice.”

The initiative will also help both organizations in managing the health of the shared patients through collaboration on care, sharing patient information, and linking in wellness services to “sustain” good health and control cost.

About the organizations

Cayuga Medical Center is part of the Ithaca–based Cayuga Health System, which also includes Schuyler Hospital in Montour Falls in Schuyler County.

The Ithaca facility is also clinically linked to the University of Rochester Medical Center for neurological care; Rochester Regional Health System for cardiac care; Roswell Park in Buffalo for cancer treatment; and Mayo Medical Laboratories for laboratory work.

The Mayo Medical Laboratories are part of the Rochester, Minnesota–based Mayo Clinic.

Family Health Network of Central New York, Inc. (FHN) is a federally funded, nonprofit community health center, according to its website.

FHN currently has 104 employees, including 15 who serve as either physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants, Kate Alm, FHN’s chief growth officer, tells BJNN.

Established in 1972, the Family Health Network includes the organization’s administration office in Homer, Cortland Family Medical Office, Pediatric Family Practice Health Center, Cincinnatus Health Center, Marathon Health Center, and Moravia Health Center, the website says.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com