Rome Health gets county funding for maternity department renovations

ROME, N.Y. — Rome Health will receive $3 million from Oneida County to help fund a dedicated Caesarean section (C-section) suite, adjacent to the maternity department on the fourth floor of the hospital.

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. announced the funding in his April 6 State of the County address.

The hospital will use the funds to renovate 2,000 square feet of existing space and convert it to a surgical suite next to the maternity department. This will enhance patient safety and optimize the hospital’s existing operating suites on the first floor, hospital officials said.

“We are proud to be one of only two “Best Maternity Hospitals” in the state,” Rome Health CEO AnneMarie Czyz, said in a news release. “The funding for a dedicated C-section suite will enable Rome Health to take the next step in advancing our bold plan for the future.”

While the hospital’s C-section rate is lower than the state average, Rome Health’s overall obstetrics volume grew 28.5 percent between 2020 and 2021 as the community had reduced access to care in neighboring communities.

At the same time, the hospital’s overall surgical volume increased 26.4 percent with the addition of new service lines and new surgeons. Currently, one of the hospital’s four existing operating rooms is reserved for emergent C-sections.

Creating a dedicated women’s surgical suite for both scheduled and emergent C-sections will increase available capacity for general surgical growth, according to hospital officials. In 2021, 744 babies were born at Rome Health, including 282 by C-section.

“The county’s investment will help us accelerate our plans for expanding access to the best care out there, here in Rome,” Czyz said.

Other recent growth initiatives at Rome Health include breaking ground during the pandemic on a new physician center, becoming a nationally accredited bariatric center, and investing in 7D technology for spine surgery.

Rome Health provides services from primary and specialty care to long-term care, is an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Health, and is an affiliated clinical site of New York Medical College.