Photo: Al David Sacks/Getty Images
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has set aside about $2.6 billion in state investments to strengthen and modernize electronic health record systems for safety net hospitals across the state.
The investments will be made in six new partnerships between safety net hospitals and healthcare organizations under the Health Care Safety Net Transformation Program. The partnerships are intended to improve care quality and stabilize the hospitals' operations for long-term sustainability.
The program was established in the FY25 Enacted Budget, and through it, the State of New York said it will provide "strategic capital and operating support," in addition to required regulatory flexibility, Hochul's office said.
"The strength of our hospitals is a reflection of the strength of our communities, and safety net hospitals play a critical role in providing quality healthcare to vulnerable populations," Hochul said.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT
Six safety net hospitals will receive investments. Arnot Ogden Medical Center and Cayuga Health will continue to develop a new coordinated health system called Centralus Health. Centralus Health was formed by the affiliation of the two healthcare organizations and serves the Finger Lakes and Central New York regions. Infrastructure upgrades will be made to Arnot Ogden Medical Center, including an expansion of behavioral health, ambulatory surgery and primary care outpatient services.
Northwell Health will offer its clinical and operational expertise in a new collaboration with Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, with Crouse expanding its ambulatory network, modernizing its neonatal intensive care unit and constructing a new cardiac catheterization laboratory.
Erie County Medical Center and the University of Buffalo Physicians Group will expand access to primary and specialty care in western New York through a series of projects, including the implementation of a community-wide electronic medical record system for all of ECMC and UB's medical practices.
Maimonides and NYC Health + Hospitals are partnering to preserve and strengthen critical services for the Brooklyn community.
St. John's Riverside Hospital will become part of the Montefiore Health System, with the two working together to expand services at the hospital, with a focus on essential community services such as cardiac and cancer care in both the inpatient and ambulatory settings.
Finally, Westchester Medical Center will fully integrate Bon Secours Charity Health System and Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley into WMC Health. Under that partnership, WMC will unify its electronic health record system, expand its residency program and improve access to behavioral health, maternal, pediatric and ambulatory care services.
ON THE RECORD
"A safe and healthy New York can only happen when state leaders and healthcare organizations come together to forge new pathways to meet the needs of New Yorkers," said New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. "I'm proud to have helped lead the establishment of the Healthcare Safety Net Transformation Program through the budget last year, and I'm delighted to see hospitals and health organizations already forming new partnerships that will improve healthcare outcomes for millions of New Yorkers."