ROME, N.Y. — Rome Memorial Hospital (RMH) has announced an affiliation agreement with St. Joseph’s Health of Syracuse that RMH hopes will “expand access to care.”
The organizations are calling it “a collaborative relationship in pursuit of mutual goals to expand patient access to needed services and technology in the community,” according to a joint news release issued on Tuesday.
“Following a comprehensive evaluation, the board has selected St. Joseph’s Health, a health-care system that shares our commitment to providing patients with high-quality, coordinated care that is easily accessible,” Dr. Chester Patrick, chairman of the RMH board of trustees, said. “The signing of the Transition Service Agreement (TSA) provides the framework for RMH to become affiliated with St. Joseph’s Health as we work together to deliver the highest level of quality healthcare services to meet the needs of our patients.”
RMH and St. Joseph’s over the next several months will work to finalize the affiliation agreement and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals.
RMH will continue to operate as an “independent, separately licensed” hospital with community representatives helping to provide local governance.
“Working with St. Joseph’s will provide our own physicians and staff with much needed support and resources to ensure that our patients have access to a full continuum of services,” David Lundquist, president and CEO of RMH, said in the release.
Lundquist began his duties as RMH CEO on March 1, following Darlene Burns, who had been serving as interim president and CEO following the resignation of Basil Ariglio last August.
It’s not the first time St. Joseph’s has reached an affiliation agreement with a smaller, regional hospital. Lewis County General Hospital (LCGH) in Lowville in March 2014 announced plans to affiliate with St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center.
“St. Joseph’s Health is becoming a regional system of care,” noted Ruscitto.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com