Bassett Healthcare Network and Oneonta Family YMCA Extend Lease Agreement at FoxCare Center

Oneonta, N.Y. - Bassett Healthcare Network and the Oneonta Family YMCA have announced they are extending their lease agreement at FoxCare Center for another three years for the Y Specialty Fitness.

“Over the past two years since Bassett Healthcare Network and the Oneonta Family YMCA joined efforts to open the Y Specialty Fitness at FoxCare Center, we have seen incredible success,” says Frank Russo, Executive Director of the Oneonta Family YMCA. “Gym membership at our FoxCare Center location has increased since June 2023 and we believe this lease extension will help us reach and exceed our goal of 1,000 members.”

The Y Specialty Fitness offers cardiovascular exercise machines, weightlifting and body-building equipment, a fitness studio, a strength and conditioning studio with cross training amenities, and pool facilities (including both a lap pool and therapy pool). Since the facility opened, fitness classes and activities have grown to include various aqua exercise sessions, spinning, Pilates, yoga, circuit training, aerobic fitness, dance classes, weightlifting, and much more.

“With this three-year lease extension, the Oneonta Family YMCA will have the opportunity to explore upgrading the cardio equipment at Y Specialty Fitness,” says Russo. “Our fitness class schedule reflects something for everyone’s fitness needs. We are continuing to expand our offerings.”

“This is a true community collaboration that is an asset to Oneonta and its surrounding region,” says Russo. “With the Y Specialty Fitness housed within FoxCare Center, members benefit from an environment that supports wellness and care across the lifespan alongside clinicians and other experts.”

A.O. Fox Hospital continues to operate outpatient cardiac, physical, occupational, and pulmonary rehabilitation services within the same space. With this lease extension agreement, A.O. Fox Hospital is working with the Y Specialty Fitness to put in place updated space arrangements for outpatient services, which will include a new privacy partition between gym equipment and the machines patients are using for treatment.

“Y gym members will now notice a privacy wall that separates our public gym equipment from patient rehab equipment,” says Russo. “This is part of how we are moving forward with more permanent space arrangements.”

“Outpatient rehabilitation services are growing at FoxCare Center,” says Joan MacDonald, DNP, MSN, RN, Vice President of Operations and Chief Nursing Officer at A.O. Fox Hospital. “With more than 500 patients receiving cardiac, physical, occupational, and pulmonary therapy at FoxCare Center every month, an important part of our long-term coexistence with the Y Specialty Fitness will mean distinguishing between clinical space and gym member amenities. This will provide privacy and safety benefits for both our patients and gym members.”

“Community partnerships are the future of rural healthcare,” says MacDonald. “We are thrilled to continue partnering with the Oneonta Family YMCA, an organization that shares Bassett’s mission of improving the health and wellness of our communities. I am deeply grateful to Frank Russo and the Oneonta Family YMCA for their continued collaboration, forward-thinking ideas, and dedication to our community.”

“I am so excited to see the Y Specialty Fitness continue,” says Russo. “It has been a terrific experience collaborating with Bassett Healthcare Network and A.O. Fox Hospital leadership. We’re in it together for our community.”

About Bassett Healthcare Network
Bassett Healthcare Network is an integrated health system that provides care and services to people living in a 5,600 square mile region in upstate New York. The organization includes five corporately affiliated hospitals, over two dozen community-based health centers, more than 20 school-based health centers, two long-term care facilities, an assisted living facility, a home health agency, and other health partners in related fields. To learn more about services available throughout Bassett Healthcare Network, visit bassett.org. Follow Bassett on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn. Bassett Healthcare Network is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

About Oneonta Family YMCA
Built by and for the community, The Oneonta Family YMCA has been an anchor institution since 1883. Since 1883, the Y has been a proactive community member by listening and responding to the needs of the community. Founded to serve this growing community and to bring about positive personal and social change, the Y continues to grow and thrive as a cause-driven non-profit organization with the help of all our donors and volunteers that help strengthen the cause. To learn more about the Oneonta Family YMCA, visit oneontaymca.org.