Ithaca, N.Y.-based Cayuga Health System and Elmira, N.Y.-based Arnot Health have merged into a five-hospital system with more than $1 billion in annual revenue.
The combined entity, which now operates under the name Centralus Health, has more than 6,500 employees serving a nine-county region. Arnot and Cayuga's campuses and offices will retain their names.
"Together, we are strengthening our ability to offer a wider array of services, reach underserved populations, and invest in the future of healthcare delivery — locally," Martin Stallone, MD, CEO of Cayuga and CEO of Centralus Health, said in a Jan. 7 news release. "We are already planning for increased access to primary care in Chemung and Tompkins counties, while preparing for the upcoming launch of Epic and MyChart to enhance patient care through technology."
Cayuga and Arnot are outsourcing their Epic implementations and both plan to go live with the EHR system in March.
Centralus Health said it is committed to investing in capital improvements across its facilities and workforce. The merger will expand access to a full spectrum of services, including critical cardiac care, cancer care, labor and delivery, outpatient care, behavioral health and emergency transportation.
"As health systems face increasing financial and workforce challenges, this partnership enables us to leverage shared resources, increase efficiencies, and ultimately lower operational costs," Jonathan Lawrence, CEO of Arnot and executive vice president of Centralus, said. "Centralus Health will continue to focus on deepening community connections and setting a higher standard for personalized care in every service we provide."