CEO TALK: CMC, FHN leaders discuss partnership

HOMER, N.Y. — Cayuga Medical Center (CMC) of Ithaca and the Family Health Network (FHN) of Central New York, Inc. started working on a plan for collaboration in 2017.

Since last fall, a joint team from FHN and CMC have spent “countless hours meeting with that common goal of improving patient care” in Cortland and surrounding counties, John Rudd, president & CEO of Cayuga Health System, said in an April 6 press conference announcing a formal collaboration agreement between the two institutions. Cayuga Health System forwarded a video file of the news conference to CNYBJ.

“Specifically, FHN patients are in need of specialty services that Cayuga Medical Center provides here in this community, including cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, orthopedics, and so many more. At the same time, patients across our shared-service are in need of additional primary care, and this aligns wonderfully with all the services and the skill sets that FHN has around primary care,” Rudd said.

The two organizations said 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.

“Our newly constructed collaboration agreement will allow FHN and Cayuga Medical Center to closely integrate clinical and programmatic approaches, while still remaining independent. By working together, we believe that we can improve access and health-care services to the patients that jointly serve throughout the region. This initiative will strengthen both organizations,” Walter Priest, president & CEO of Family Health Network of Central New York, said at the news conference.

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 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 CNYBJ.

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