Congressman Marc Molinaro and Bassett Healthcare Network President & CEO Staci Thompson Address Regional Healthcare Needs

Cooperstown, NY — Staci Thompson, MHA, FACMPE, President & CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network, welcomed Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19) at a visit to Cooperstown on May 17. Their discussion focused on healthcare services and needs in the region.

Thompson provided Congressman Molinaro with an overview of Bassett Healthcare Network’s integrated health system, which serves communities throughout a 5,600 square mile region in Central New York. Serving one million patient encounters annually, Bassett’s network includes five corporately affiliated hospitals, over two dozen community-based health centers, more than 20 school-based health centers, two skilled nursing facilities, an assisted living facility, a home health agency, a durable medical equipment company, and a fully employed medical group with more than 600 practitioners.

In New York’s 19th Congressional District, Bassett operates four hospitals, including A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta, A.O. Fox Hospital – Tri-Town Campus (a stand-alone emergency department in Sidney), Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, O’Connor Hospital in Delhi, 16 school-based health centers, and four community-based health centers. Bassett employs more than 3,000 residents of the 19th Congressional District.

"I'm glad to have the vital services of Bassett Healthcare Network in our region and work with them to extend healthcare services across rural communities in Upstate New York,” says Congressman Molinaro. “We’re unfortunately seeing staffing shortages, financial challenges, and cyberattacks increasingly target healthcare facilities. In response, I’ve been pressing the Department of Health and Human Services to step up and provide more support to hospitals, especially those in rural communities. I'm proud to work alongside Bassett Healthcare Network to discuss the work that needs to be done so patients can access the care they need."

Thompson stated that recruiting caregivers and practitioners to Central New York is a top priority at Bassett. Staffing challenges are affecting how quickly and efficiently patients can access the care they need. The organization is working diligently to bring providers in primary care and across specialty services, including surgical services. Thompson added that increasing virtual practitioners on Bassett’s medical staff has been tremendously successful in reducing wait times for appointments in areas like Primary Care, Endocrinology, Bariatrics, and General Surgery. This method for supplementing the medical staff complement will continue. Thompson also cited the need for appropriate levels of reimbursement and payment models to make it possible to provide needed services.

Additionally, significant discussion took place around mental health challenges in rural America, including across Bassett’s service area, and how hospitals and health systems can collaborate with elected officials to better serve these vulnerable patient populations. 

“We are deeply grateful to Congressman Molinaro for his steadfast commitment to supporting the healthcare needs of citizens in our rural Central New York region,” says Thompson. “As we continue to navigate a rapidly changing healthcare environment and work to address complex operational challenges like rising costs for staffing and supplies, reimbursement changes from government payors, broadband access, cybersecurity considerations, and workforce industry shifts, partnership and advocacy from elected officials is critical. Congressman Molinaro has been instrumental in advocating for critical research funds to support Bassett’s New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) for farm safety initiatives. He was also a tremendous source of support for many hospitals and health systems during the Change Healthcare cyberattack, advocating for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expedite advance payments.”

Also in attendance was Dr. Henry Weil, Senior Vice President, Chief Clinical and Academic Officer of Bassett Healthcare Network and President of Bassett Medical Center.

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 central New York. The organization includes five corporately affiliated hospitals, over two dozen community-based health centers, more than 20 school-based health centers, two skilled nursing facilities, and other health partners in related fields. To learn more about services available throughout the Bassett Healthcare Network, visit www.bassett.org. Follow Bassett on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn. Bassett Healthcare Network is an equal opportunity provider and employer.