With the completion of antitrust investigations by the Federal Trade Commission and New York State Attorney General’s Office, Finger Lakes Health now has the green light to merge with the University of Rochester Medical Center.

FLH is run by 1,350 doctors and staff members who serve eastern Ontario, Seneca, Yates, and Wayne counties. It already provides cardiology, stroke care, cancer treatment, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, urology and vascular care services with URMC, including surgeries at Geneva General Hospital and Finger Lakes Surgery Center.

Once they merge on August 1, the two will expand access to primary and specialty care services, implement URMC’s EMR system at FLH, complete group purchases to align their operations, and recruit physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. FLH will change its name to UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health.

URMC and its UR Medicine affiliates are made up of 27,000 faculty and staff members, and will now include two inpatient hospitals under FLH, Geneva General and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial in Penn Yan, along with four long-term care facilities and 13 physician practices.

“This connection to one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers will build upon established clinical partnerships, increase access to specialty care, and enhance our ability to serve our communities for generations to come,” Dr. Jose Acevedo, president and CEO of FLH, said in a statement.

Among URMC’s affiliates are Strong Memorial Hospital; Highland Hospital; Thompson Health; Noyes Health; Jones Memorial Hospital; and St. James Hospital, along with nursing homes, senior housing facilities, home health providers, and physician groups.

Talks for affiliation began in 2019 but were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. An official management services agreement was reached in October 2020 and approved by the New York State Department of Health. As part of the agreement, both organizations will create a plan for maintaining and expanding patient service in the Finger Lakes Health service area, and report progress for five years to the New York State Attorney General.

Geneva General and Soldiers & Sailors will retain local governance via community boards. Three URMC representatives will join the Finger Lakes Health Board of Directors, and three FLH representatives will join the URMC Board.

Acevedo will oversee all administrative operations and patient services for the affiliate.

Business Affairs Homepage