SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Upstate Medical University on Thursday announced plans to acquire the operations of Crouse Health, which would become part of the Upstate Medical University Health System.
The proposed combination of the two medical neighbors near Syracuse University seeks to “enhance care delivery to Central New Yorkers,” Upstate Medical said in its Thursday announcement.
Upstate Medical did not disclose the purchase price or any other financial terms of its proposed acquisition.
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Both health-care institutions are currently seeking regulatory approvals, including a certificate of need from the New York State Department of Health, which is expected to take “several months,” Upstate Medical said. During this time, the two institutions will remain independent.
The proposed combination will include all of Crouse Hospital’s inpatient and outpatient services. Crouse Hospital will become part of Upstate University Hospital and the Crouse campus will be branded as Upstate Crouse Hospital. Crouse Medical Practice will remain intact and will be rebranded as Upstate Crouse Medical Practice.
Upstate Medical University is already Central New York’s largest employer and would become even bigger with its acquisition of the 12th largest employer, Crouse, according to the 2022 Book of Lists, which includes data for the 16-county CNY region.
The acquisition will create a system with more than 13,000 employees, 1,200 licensed inpatient hospital beds, and offer more than 70 specialties.
The combination will “markedly increase” clinical-training opportunities for future health-care providers studying in the College of Medicine, College of Health Professions, and two complementary Schools of Nursing, Upstate Medical contends.
Upstate Medical said it anticipates that the two organizations’ current respective unions will continue to represent union employees at each hospital.
Officials’ comments
The Thursday announcement from Upstate Medical University included reactions from many of the top officials at both health systems, including Patrick Mannion, chairman of the Crouse Health board of directors.
“Our board has always focused on the best way to meet community health needs and this joining of two highly regarded institutions committed to Central New York will help ensure the quality care our communities deserve,” Mannion contended. “Discussions between Crouse and Upstate have always revolved around creating the best environment possible for patients, medical professionals and dedicated staff. The board determined that integration with a local partner was the best option for Crouse, and given our history, Upstate was the preferred choice, one that the community will embrace.”
The cultures at the two institutions have “evolved in recent years, becoming similar in many ways,” Kimberly Boynton, CEO of Crouse Health, said. “In fact, the two cultures are more aligned now than they have ever been,” she said.
“Building upon our combined strengths will be a significant step in shaping the future growth of the region’s only academic medical center as we expand educational and training opportunities for the medical professionals of tomorrow,” Dr. Mantosh Dewan, president of Upstate Medical University, said. “Moving forward, our exceptional medical staffs will continue to provide great value to our community as we work together to enhance patient care for our region.”
Dr. Robert Corona, CEO of Upstate University Hospital, also added his thoughts.
“There has been a natural progression in our relationship over the years. Between the two organizations, there are many clinical services that complement each other. Formalizing the relationship with Crouse — and making it a key component of our University Hospital system — would allow these services to flourish,” he contended.
