North Country hospitals also receive funding ROME — The state has awarded Rome Health $18.9 million in funding through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation program to advance health-information technology, cybersecurity, and telehealth across its network. The North Country hospitals Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown and […]
North Country hospitals also receive funding
ROME — The state has awarded Rome Health $18.9 million in funding through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation program to advance health-information technology, cybersecurity, and telehealth across its network.
The North Country hospitals Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg also won state funding under the same program.
The awards are among more than $300 million in new state funding to support health-care transformation projects across New York state, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 12.
The grants, made through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV and V, will support 22 projects aimed at improving health-information technology by expanding patient electronic-medical records, strengthening cybersecurity, and patient-information security, and expanding telehealth services.
Rome Health
The money will allow Rome Health to implement an integrated electronic-health record (EHR), replacing six separate systems currently in use, per the Dec. 12 Rome Health announcement. The new system will help providers spend less time navigating multiple platforms and more time with patients, while improving care coordination and efficiency throughout the hospital and affiliated practices, the health system contended.
“This $18.9 million project is a major milestone in our mission to transform healthcare delivery and strengthen the long-term sustainability of care in our community,” AnneMarie Czyz, president and CEO of Rome Health and a registered nurse, said in the Rome Health announcement. “With our new ICU, surgical services, women’s surgical suite, and medical center already open, this health IT initiative is the final component of the transformation plan we set in motion five years ago.”
Czyz also acknowledged Gov. Kathy Hochul; Dr. James McDonald, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health; New York State Senator Joseph Griffo (R–Rome); and New York State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D–Marcy)
“We are deeply grateful to our state leaders for recognizing how vital this project is for the future of healthcare in our community,” Czyz said. “We express our gratitude to Governor Hochul and Commissioner McDonald for their continued commitment to strengthening healthcare across New York State. Their leadership in prioritizing investments that modernize health information technology, enhance cybersecurity, and expand telehealth makes a meaningful difference for communities like ours. This support ensures that Rome Health can continue building a safe, reliable, and connected system of care that meets the needs of our patients today and well into the future.”
Nancy Levett, chief information officer, and Dr. Michael Attilio, chief medical information officer at Rome Health, are leading the next phase, including a request for proposal to select the new EHR system.
“This investment will give our teams the tools they need to deliver safe, efficient, and connected care,” Levett said. “It also strengthens our cybersecurity posture and enhances data-driven quality improvements for our patients.”
The EHR will support business operations, streamline revenue cycle processes, and provide data-driven insights that will help ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Rome Health.
New York State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D–Marcy) issued a Dec. 12 statement congratulating Rome Health hospital on its grant award.
“Rome Health Hospital has long served as a cornerstone of our community’s wellbeing and a pillar of support for our residents,” she said. “This investment will enable Rome Health to modernize its facilities and enhance patient care capabilities, allowing the hospital to continue its mission of providing high-quality healthcare services close to home, while adapting to meet the evolving needs of the patients and families it serves.”
North Country hospitals
Besides Rome Health, Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown will use a nearly $22 million grant for implementing a unified electronic-health record system.
Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg will use a nearly $5 million grant for its project called, “Carthage Area Hospital CyberGuard Health Initiative: Cybersecurity Protection and EHR Optimization.”
Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center and Carthage Area Hospital operate under the same leadership.
“With these investments, we are focused on developing safe, reliable and connected patient-centered care,” Dr. James McDonald, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, said in the state’s announcement. “By expanding data capabilities and improving cybersecurity defenses, we’re enhancing clinical decision making across the state’s health care network.”
