Network News
April 9, 2018
A.O. Fox Hospital has been designated an “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC).
March 29, 2018
Joseph R. Sellers, MD, FAAP, FACP, took office as Treasurer at MSSNY’s 212th annual House of Delegates meeting in Buffalo on March 24, 2018. In this position, he will oversee the finances of the state’s primary professional organization for physicians. Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Sellers sees patients in Bassett's Cobleskill primary care center and serves as Eastern Region Medical Director for Bassett Healthcare Network.
March 26, 2018
Living Well with Diabetes is a free interactive seven-week workshop series for Bassett Healthcare Network patients living with diabetes. The program is free, although registration is required.
March 21, 2018
Bassett Medical Center’s surgical weight-loss program was recently designated a Blue Distinction Center+ for Bariatric Surgery by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community.
March 19, 2018
Ralph H. Meyer, chairman of the Bassett Healthcare Network Board of Directors, announced today that William F. Streck, MD, will return to the organization to assume the role of President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bassett Healthcare Network. The announcement follows the decision by current Bassett Healthcare Network CEO Vance M. Brown, MD, to step down effective April 20, 2018, in order to pursue opportunities outside of Bassett.
March 19, 2018
With snowfall rates of up to and inch per hour, Kara Foster of Delanson, NY, and her husband, Mike, had just a bit of trepidation as they climbed in their truck during an early March snowstorm and headed for the emergency department (ED) at Cobleskill Regional Hospital.
March 5, 2018
Mun K. Hong, MD, FACC, a nationally recognized interventional cardiologist, has joined Bassett Healthcare Network as Chief of Cardiovascular Services. Hong comes to Bassett after three years as chairman of the Department of Cardiology at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and prior to that, he was director of the cardiac catheterization lab and interventional cardiology at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan. Hong also spent seven years as director of cardiovascular intervention…
March 1, 2018
Kristen Herbst, DO, who is board-certified in orthopedic surgery, has joined Bassett Healthcare Network. She specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopy and shoulder surgery, including total shoulder replacement.
February 26, 2018
Millions of people in this country suffer from inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s or colitis, both of which may increase a person’s risk of colon cancer. Bassett Healthcare Network colorectal surgeons are now performing one of the most advanced treatments for these conditions – robotic-assisted, minimally invasive surgery – at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.
February 14, 2018
More than 400 guests joined the Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network at the second Valentine’s Soiree. The event raised $160,000 in support of the addition of a new state-of-the-art operating room at Bassett Medical Center that will enable talented surgical teams to accommodate more complex cases, perform new, minimally invasive procedures and give patients quicker recovery times. The live auction and raffles contributed more than $20,000 of the total proceeds. The Otesaga Hotel hosted the…
February 9, 2018
Dr. William LeCates, acting president of Bassett Medical Center, announced today that Bassett has received an $8 million dollar grant from the Scriven Foundation. The funds will be used to support upgrades to patient care equipment on the Cooperstown campus and throughout Bassett Medical Center’s service area.
February 7, 2018
New York — Today, five hospitals serving rural New York State began collecting leftover pharmaceuticals from the public free of charge through July 2018. Locally, Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown and O’ Connor Hospital in Delhi are participating in this pilot program developed by the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) and the New York Product Stewardship Council (NYPSC). In addition, FoxCare Pharmacy in Oneonta will also begin collecting unused medications free of charge.
February 6, 2018
Bassett Medical Center's maternity program recently received Excellus' Blue Distinction® Center+ for Maternity Care designation, as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated hospitals that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community.
February 5, 2018
Cooperstown, NY – Bassett Healthcare Network’s nearly 4,000 employees had the opportunity Friday, Feb. 5, to hear the impactful story of a doctor who two years ago found himself in the position of performing CPR on his own daughter. That doctor, Derek Ratliff, an ophthalmologist at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, and his daughter Kristin, shared their story in the hopes of saving more lives. Their powerful experience played out in a video (watch the video) during Bassett’s annual Go Red…
February 2, 2018
FoxCare Center on Route 7 in Oneonta is experiencing phone and internet outage issues. All patients who have scheduled appointments at health clinics at FoxCare are encouraged to call their provider’s office. If you are unable to reach your provider’s office, please call 607-432-2000. FoxNow, Laboratory, and Medical Imaging are unable to accept walk-ins at this time. We will continue to update you as we work to resolve the issue. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your…
January 25, 2018
O’Connor Hospital (OCH), part of the Bassett Healthcare Network, recently announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Hospital Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards. The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.
January 15, 2018
The Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network will hold its second annual Valentine’s Soirée, in celebration of love and friendship, Saturday evening, Feb. 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown. Proceeds from this year’s Soirée will support the addition of a new state-of-the-art operating room (OR) at Bassett Medical Center. The new OR will enable Bassett’s surgical teams to accommodate more complex cases, perform new, minimally-invasive procedures and give patients…
January 2, 2018
“There is not a lot of evidence to help inform clinical care of transgender and gender nonconforming youth, particularly for rural areas,” explains Anne Gadomski, MD, pediatrician and director of the Bassett Research Institute in Cooperstown, NY. Gadomski was recently recognized by the NYS Department of Health for her work in support of gender wellness; she received the Worlds AIDS Day NY Commissioner’s Special Recognition award for establishing New York State’s first rural pediatric registry…
January 2, 2018
The Bassett Birthing Center in Cooperstown welcomed its first baby of 2018 shortly after the ball dropped in Time Square to ring in the New Year. Baby Isabella Marjorie made her debut at 1:21 a.m. on Jan. 1, and arrived at a healthy 8lbs 3oz, 19 inches long.
December 28, 2017
The Bassett Healthcare Network Board of Directors and the Bassett Medical Center Board of Trustees have appointed new board chairs to take over effective Jan 1, 2018. Ralph H. Meyer, LFACHE, past President and CEO of Guthrie Healthcare System from 1982-1998, will take over as chairman of the Bassett Healthcare Network Board of Directors, and Terry Fulmer, Ph.D, RN, FAAN, President of The John A. Hartford Foundation in New York City and previously vice chair of the Bassett Medical Center Board of…
December 27, 2017
At Home Care Inc. (AHC), a part of Bassett Healthcare Network, announced it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Home Care Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards, and, as such, is the only Joint Commission-accredited home health agency in the region. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective care to the patients they serve.
December 22, 2017
Baby no. 1,000 for 2017 was born Dec. 19 at 3:57 a.m. at Bassett Medical Center, making it a very exciting day for Paula Waffle and Eric Johnson of Brookfield and their family, as well as for Bassett’s birthing center family!
December 18, 2017
With flu season upon us, Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown is modifying its visitation policy at the Bassett Birthing Center and on the hospital’s pediatric unit. While influenza season is underway, only the birthing coach, parents, grandparents and siblings of the baby or pediatric patient may visit, as long as they are healthy.
December 15, 2017
Little Falls Hospital’s goal of developing a new primary care health center in Dolgeville is one big step closer to becoming a reality. On Dec. 13, when Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the 2017 Regional Economic Development Council Awards, Little Falls Hospital (LFH), a part of Bassett Healthcare Network, was awarded support from New York State. The hospital is slated to receive $480,000 from Empire State Development (ESD) for the relocation, design and construction of the new health center…
December 5, 2017
For people with kidney failure, dialysis treatment replaces the kidney’s function of cleaning the blood of toxins and removing extra fluids. It is a process that typically takes a few to several hours and the type of vascular access used for the treatment to occur is critically important to patient outcomes.
December 5, 2017
On January 1, 2018, Tri-Town Regional Hospital (TRH) in Sidney will become a satellite emergency department of A.O. Fox Hospital. The facility will be newly named A.O. Fox Hospital – Tri-Town Campus. Services will not be impacted by this transition. Both locations will continue to be part of the Bassett Healthcare Network.
December 4, 2017
Valley Residential Services’ celebrated the groundbreaking of an expansion of their facilities in Herkimer on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The expansion will provide 14 one-bedroom apartments, all large enough for couples, as well as a new fully staffed wellness and fitness center for use by all residents of Valley Residential Services.
November 28, 2017
Bassett’s 20 school-based health (SBH) centers recently received accreditation as Level 3 patient-centered medical homes by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Bassett’s SBH program is one of only a few programs nationally to successfully apply for and receive this designation for each of its centers. The NCQA recognition provides ongoing credibility for SBH centers as being primary health-care centers for students enrolled in Bassett’s SBH program and mirrors the medical home…
November 27, 2017
Since first launching the program five years ago, Bassett Healthcare Network has been an advocate for the 5-2-1-0 healthy IMG_9292.jpglifestyles campaign as part of our mission to support healthier communities. The program focuses on highlighting key initiatives for a healthy lifestyle that are easy to remember and highly effective. The “5” stands for 5 fruits and vegetables a day, the “2” for two hours or less of recreational screen time, “1” for at least an hour of physical activity, and “0”…
November 9, 2017
Bassett Healthcare Network is recognizing the annual Great American Smokeout, coordinated by the American Cancer Society, by hosting informational seminars for our communities. The Smokeout on Nov. 16 is a day earmarked for smokers to quit so they can focus on one day at a time. Bassett is hosting open-to-the-public, free seminars throughout the network during the week of Nov. 15 – 17. These seminars will introduce those trying to quit smoking to products and techniques to help them quit, as…
November 3, 2017
Vance M. Brown, MD, announced Friday, Nov. 3, that he is stepping down as President of Bassett Medical Center (BMC), but will remain Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bassett Healthcare Network (BHN). William LeCates, MD, currently medical director and VP of Medical Affairs for BMC, has agreed to step in as Deputy President of Bassett Medical Center while a transition team works to develop a plan of succession.
October 31, 2017
Cobleskill Regional Hospital, a part of Bassett Healthcare Network, in collaboration with local emergency preparedness service providers, will host a mass casualty drill Saturday, Nov. 4. The drill will begin at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds at 9 a.m. and move to Cobleskill Regional Hospital. Law enforcement will manage traffic during the drill, which is expected to be complete by noon on Saturday.
October 30, 2017
54 million Americans have osteoporosis and low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) says approximately one in two women and up to one in four men age 50 and older will break a bone due to osteoporosis. A fracture sustained in one’s senior years can be life changing.
October 19, 2017
Four surgeons from Bassett Medical Center recently returned from a trip to southern Africa where they trained a group of surgeons there how to perform abdominal laparoscopic surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery. The surgeons they trained will extend the reach of the Bassett project by training fellow African doctors in this more advanced surgical technique, which is expected to result in expanded access to this type of surgery for the poor, shorter hospital stays and better…
October 17, 2017
The needs of seniors in Otsego County are significant, and yet help can sometimes be difficult to access easily in this largely rural county. For that reason, Bassett Medical Center is again holding a Senior Resource Fair Friday, Oct. 20, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the lobby of the Clinic building on River Street in Cooperstown. Admission is free. The intent is simply to connect seniors with the resources they may need.
October 16, 2017
On Saturday, Oct. 7, 142 runners and walkers participated in the fifth annual Bassett Cupola 5K, which, this year, supports the Fieldstone Assistance Fund.
October 12, 2017
It's time to get your flu shot! The 2017-2018 flu vaccine is now available to our patients. Find a location near you.
October 6, 2017
O’Connor Hospital officially opened its fitness trail to the community with a Stroll with Scott on Friday, October 6th. Scott Bonderoff, President at O’Connor Hospital started the half mile stroll with a ribbon cutting on the newly completed fitness trail. Joining Scott, on a stroll, were hospital board members, employees, & fitness trail sponsors.
September 20, 2017
Attending Surgeon Jose Raul Monzon, MD, is the most recent recipient of Bassett Healthcare Network’s most prestigious recognition for a physician, the Walter A. Franck Physician Excellence Award. The award was established to honor rheumatologist Walter A. Franck, MD, who retired from Bassett in 2014 after more than four distinguished decades of service. The award recognizes a physician who emulates the lifelong career traits of Dr. Franck - service to patients, students, colleagues and the…
September 19, 2017
A.O. Fox Hospital, an affiliate of Bassett Healthcare Network, is proud to announce its recent partnership with the DAISY Foundation, a not-for-profit that cooperates with health care organizations worldwide to honor nurses who demonstrate extraordinary care.
September 8, 2017
O’Connor Hospital will host its annual community influenza clinic on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. – noon. No appointment is necessary to receive the immunization; however those looking to participate should register at the hospital’s main registration desk in the front lobby on that day from 8 a.m. – noon.
September 7, 2017
American Red Cross blood drive at Bassett Medical Center. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.
September 6, 2017
Living Well with a Chronic Condition is a free interactive seven-week workshop series for Bassett Healthcare Network patients living with diabetes, breathing problems, depression, anxiety, heart conditions and arthritis. Receive a $40 grocery store gift card for attending four of the first six sessions and another $10 gift card for attending session seven!
September 1, 2017
Bassett Medical Center executives held a meeting this week to begin a conversation with neighbors of the hospital campus and Village of Cooperstown leaders about draft plans for a construction project aimed at alleviating a long-standing parking shortage. The plans being considered would also create additional education and clinical space for Bassett Medical Center, a hospital with teaching and research missions in addition to patient care.
August 7, 2017
A.O. Fox Hospital has acquired ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection technology to UV Light Technology.jpgsupplement its methods for sanitizing surgical areas. The portable lamp, which uses UV light to kill bacteria, will intensify Fox’s sterilization protocols and increase efficiency for staff.
June 27, 2017
A year ago, Bassett Medical Center launched an aggressive andIMG_5965.jpg comprehensive program to improve the management and outcomes of patients with diabetes and high blood pressure, thereby enhancing patients’ quality of life. Project teams comprised of key stakeholders from across clinical and non-clinical areas came together to analyze current practices, identify opportunities for improvement and develop evidence-based protocols to effect positive change.
June 21, 2017
Dr. William LeCates has been appointed Vice President of Medical Affairs for Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, NY. This role is in addition to his responsibilities as the hospital’s medical director, a position he has held since 2011. As VP of Medical Affairs, LeCates will have oversight of care management and clinical excellence, which includes the areas of quality management, clinical effectiveness, infection control, risk management, accreditation and regulatory readiness.
June 13, 2017
Ronette Wiley, RN, BS, MHSA, CPPS, has been appointed Executive Vice President (VP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Bassett Medical Center. Wiley previously served as VP of Performance Improvement and Care Coordination and Chief Compliance Officer at Bassett Medical Center since 2008. She also served as interim administrator for hospital operations from 2015-2016 while the search was conducted for a Chief Operating Officer of Bassett Healthcare Network.
June 12, 2017
After more than a year hiatus, Bassett Healthcare Network’s mobile mammography and cancer screening program is back on the road. Bassett invested in a newer generation RV-type medical coach equipped with high-tech diagnostic technology; the coach, manufactured by Medical Coaches, Inc., in Oneonta, is traveling throughout the network’s eight-county service region and adjacent counties to bring breast and cervical cancer screening services to convenient locations for the population Bassett serves.…
June 5, 2017
The 20th annual KeyBank Bassett Medical Center Invitational took place May 30, with the Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network hosting the tournament at The Otesaga Hotel’s challenging par-72 Leatherstocking Golf Course. The generosity of Invitational sponsors, golfers and guests enabled the Friends to raise more than $100,000. New proceeds will support the Friends’ Annual Fund, which strengthens Bassett Healthcare Network’s regional initiatives across its eight-county service area.
May 26, 2017
Do you know a teen who might be looking for something fun and meaningful to do this summer? If so, Bassett Medical Center is now accepting applications to the Junior Volunteer Program, for students ages 14 to 17. Students will gain useful work experience and learn about some of the services provided at the hospital and become an important part of the health care team helping others.
May 23, 2017
Cooperstown High School seniors Sierra Kitson and Maria Noto were recently each awarded a $500 scholarship by the Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation, in partnership with The Community Foundation for South Central New York. The students received their scholarships in a brief ceremony at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown May 17.
May 22, 2017
A doctor completing his medical training at Bassett hopes the results of a recent research study project will help save lives. Dr. Umair Iqbal conducted research exploring patients who suffer from fainting after a sudden drop in blood pressure and a potential diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism (a blockage in the lungs caused by a blood clot that has traveled from another part of the body, which is often fatal).
May 16, 2017
Less pain and quicker recovery are among the benefits of robot-guided partial knee replacement and this new, innovative procedure was performed for the first time at A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta, NY, earlier this month. Dr. Michael Diaz, an orthopedic surgeon with the Bassett Medical Group, performed the area’s first partial knee replacement using the NAVIO surgical system.
May 9, 2017
Since 1993 and nearly every year since, Tom Huntsman, MD, division chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Bassett Medical Center, has traveled around the globe performing life-changing surgeries and procedures on impoverished children who wouldn’t otherwise be able to have access to care. Through the Resurge (formerly known as Interplast) and Medical Missions for Children organizations, he has undertaken 25 mission trips to as many countries, from Vietnam to Russia to Mozambique, often…
May 9, 2017
The 20th annual Bassett Medical Center Invitational tees off on Tuesday, May 30, at The Otesaga Resort Hotel’s prestigious Leatherstocking Golf Course. Proceeds generated by the tournament will support the work of the Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network to strengthen Bassett initiatives across central New York.
May 9, 2017
In pediatricians’ offices here in central New York and around the country, health providers see children who are impacted by a difficult home environment. Consider the following scenario: During a child’s pediatric visit it may come up that she has been having difficulty in school, fighting with classmates during recess and causing disruptions in class. She had been taken out of the home after witnessing a physical fight between her parents. Her father, who was drunk, had thrown her mother, who…
May 2, 2017
A.O. Fox Hospital has adopted a new electronic health record (EHR), the same system in place at all other Bassett Healthcare Network locations. All six hospitals in the Bassett Healthcare Network as well as the outpatient health centers across the network’s eight-county service region are now connected electronically. This powerful electronic health record brings patients’ health information into a consolidated Bassett Healthcare Network medical record, so patients have one record across the…
April 27, 2017
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that 29 percent of American adults have high blood pressure—that’s 1 of every 3 adults—and only about half of those have their condition under control. But thanks to a new program, Living Well with High Blood Pressure, Bassett Healthcare Network patients in Otsego, Herkimer, Madison and Chenango counties have access to an evidence-based self-management program to support a decision to be a more active manager of this chronic health…
April 12, 2017
Statistics indicate that many of us are living with diabetes—9.5 percent of adults in Madison County. But thanks to a new program, Living Well with Diabetes, Bassett Healthcare Network patients in Madison County have access to a national evidence-based self-management program to support a decision to be a more active manager of this chronic health condition. Living Well with Diabetes is a free, seven-week workshop series for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes but want to learn how to…
April 12, 2017
Statistics indicate that many of us are living with diabetes—10.4 percent of adults in Chenango County. But thanks to a new program, Living Well with Diabetes, Bassett Healthcare Network patients in Chenango County have access to a national evidence-based self-management program to support a decision to be a more active manager of this chronic health condition. Living Well with Diabetes is a free, seven-week workshop series for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes but want to learn how…
April 6, 2017
Statistics indicate that many of us are living with diabetes—14 percent of adults in Herkimer County and 10 percent of adults in Otsego County. But thanks to a new program, Living Well with Diabetes, Bassett Healthcare Network patients in Herkimer, Little Falls, Richfield Springs, and Cherry Valley have access to a national evidence-based self-management program to support a decision to be a more active manager of this chronic health condition. Living Well with Diabetes is a free, seven-week…
March 31, 2017
Bassett Medical Center will participate in month-long activities to celebrate National Donate Life Month, a celebration held throughout the month of April that showcases the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue donation and encourages New Yorkers to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Donor Registry.
March 29, 2017
Bassett Healthcare Network, with support from the Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network, will release an illustrated history of the institution entitled “Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, New York: 200 Years of Health Care in Rural America”early this summer.
March 16, 2017
Leatherstocking Collaborative Health Partners (LCHP), in collaboration with New York State Senator James Seward (R/C/I- Oneonta) and Bassett Healthcare Network, staged a Heroin and Opioid Summit for key stakeholders in the region, Thursday, March 16 at the Otesaga Resort Hotel. The event brought together individuals, organizations, agencies and others with the ability to influence positive change in regard to the public health impacts of the heroin and opioid crisis.
February 28, 2017
Effective immediately and in an effort to help curb the spread of influenza in the inpatient psychiatric unit, Bassett Medical Center is not accepting new psychiatric admissions. There are currently two confirmed cases of influenza and one suspected case among 11 patients.
February 20, 2017
“More than 400 guests joined the Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network at the first Valentine’s Soiree. The event raised nearly $150,000 in support of the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) John May Farm Safety Fund. (http://www.nycamh.org/programs/john-may-farm-safety-fund/)
February 17, 2017
The Bassett Healthcare Network Board of Directors and O’Connor Hospital Board of Trustees announce the appointment of Scott Bonderoff, MBA, CMPE, as President of O’Connor Hospital in Delhi, NY, to succeed Dr. Carlton Rule who is leaving O’Connor and Bassett Healthcare Network the end of this month. Bonderoff has been with Bassett Healthcare since 2001 and Vice President of Patient Services and Ancillary Support at Bassett Medical Center since 2010. He was chosen from among a dozen internal and…
January 24, 2017
A certificate of need (CON) has been submitted to the New York State Department of Health (DOH) to make Tri-Town Regional Hospital in Sidney, NY, a satellite emergency department (ED) under the leadership of A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta. Both hospitals are part of Bassett Healthcare Network. If the CON is approved by DOH, the conversion to a satellite ED model would take effect in the third quarter of 2017.
January 10, 2017
With flu season upon us, Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown is modifying its visitation policy at the Bassett Birthing Center and on the hospital’s pediatric unit. While influenza season is underway, only the birthing coach, parents, grandparents and siblings of the baby or pediatric patient may visit, as long as they are healthy.
January 5, 2017
Bassett’s school-based health program has been granted a $4,000 Community Health Award by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The award will fund the purchase of cleanable and single-use toys that form a crucial part of mental health therapy in school-based health.