EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

Rome Health receives $3 million funding from Oneida County

Rome, N.Y. — Officials with Rome Health are grateful to receive funding from Oneida County.

During his recent State of the County address, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente announced that Rome Health will be receiving $3 million to help fund a dedicated c-section suite adjacent to the Maternity Department on the fourth floor.

“We are grateful to County Executive Anthony Picente for making an investment in the Women’s Surgical Suite at Rome Health,” Rome Health President | Chief Executive Officer Annemarie Czyz, EDD., RN, NEA-BC, said in a news release. “Thank you for helping Rome Health ensure that the best maternity care is easily accessible to the women of Rome and the surrounding rural communities.”

“We are proud to be one of only two “Best Maternity Hospitals” in the state. The funding for a dedicated csection suite will enable Rome Health to take the next step in advancing our bold plan for the future,” Czyz said. “While navigating the pandemic, we broke ground on our new Physician Center, became a nationally accredited bariatric center and invested in revolutionary 7D technology for spine surgery.”

The hospital says it plans to renovate 2,000 square foot of existing space and convert it to a modern surgical suite adjacent to the Maternity Department for enhanced patient safety and to optimize the hospital’s existing operating suites on the first floor.

Although the hospital’s c-section rate is better than the state average, the hospital’s overall obstetrics volume grew 28.5% between 2020 and 2021 with reduced access to care in neighboring communities and the hospital’s designation as one of only two “Best Maternity Hospitals” in the state, hospital officials noted.

In addition, the hospital’s overall surgical volume increased 26.4% with the addition of new service lines and new surgeons. Currently, one of the four existing operating rooms is reserved for emergent C-sections.

Creating a dedicated Women’s Surgical Suite for both scheduled and emergent C-sections will increase available capacity for general surgical growth. In 2021, 744 babies were born at Rome Health. Of those 282 were by c-section, including repeat procedures.

“The county’s investment will help us to accelerate our plans for expanding access to the best care out there, here in Rome,” Czyz said.

Rome Health is a nonprofit health care system based in Rome, N.Y., providing services to patients throughout Central New York. From primary and specialty care to longterm care, Rome Health delivers quality, compassionate medical care for every stage of life. We are a comprehensive health care system that connects you to the best clinicians and the latest technologies so they are easily accessible to you and your family. Rome Health is an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Health and an affiliated clinical site of New York Medical College.

SUBMITTED PHOTO A look at nurse holding a baby.