Patient Care

UR Medicine, St. James Mercy Hospital to Explore Formal Affiliation

Jun. 10, 2015

UR Medicine and St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell announced today their intent to explore a formal affiliation between the organizations. 

While St. James Mercy and UR Medicine have been working collaboratively for nearly a year, the proposed affiliation would add St. James Mercy to UR Medicine’s hospital network, alongside Strong Memorial, Highland, and Thompson Health.  UR Medicine previously announced that it is in similar affiliation discussions with Noyes Health in Dansville and Jones Memorial in Wellsville.   Any final decision regarding an affiliation would require the approval of the University’s Board of Trustees as well as the New York State Department of Health.

The letter of intent, signed by leaders of both organizations this week, lays out two primary goals of the proposed affiliation: to achieve long-term financial stability for St. James Mercy and to strengthen local health care in Hornell.  It outlines several criteria that must be satisfied in order for an affiliation to proceed, including:

 

  • St. James will secure state funding that will enable it to continue operations for 24 months, as well as at least $36 million to build a new health care facility in Hornell. 
  • The organizations will develop a multi-year plan to achieve long-term financial stability and improved patient care.  The plan will align with the requirements of key New York State funding programs such as the Department of Health’s Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Program (DSRIP).  
  • St. James must achieve certain operational and financial milestones.

Last week UR Medicine began providing the services of a part-time interim chief medical officer, as well as two nurse administrators who are providing support to the nursing leadership transition.   

“As we’ve worked with the board and leadership of St. James Mercy, it’s been clear that the first step toward preserving health care services in Hornell is to develop a plan that puts St. James Mercy on solid financial footing,” said Mark Taubman, M.D., CEO of UR Medicine. “That is ultimately going to require support from the state, and it’s going to require a cooperative approach involving other nearby hospitals in the region.  No hospital can go it alone in navigating this type of transition.”

“We believe the future is bright for St. James Mercy,” said Jennifer L. Sullivan, president and CEO of St. James Mercy Hospital.  “We’re grateful for the support and expertise that UR Medicine has continued to provide to St. James Mercy as we work to strengthen health care services in Hornell.”