ROME — “The best care out there. Here.” is more than a marketing tagline for Rome Health.

“It’s our promise to foster an environment that is convenient, accessible, and supports the best outcomes,” said President/Chief Executive Officer AnneMarie W. Czyz. “Evidence of that promise can be seen in the investments that we’re making to expand access to expert care locally and the quality awards that we’ve earned.”

In 2022, Rome Health earned national recognition in maternity, weight loss surgery, spine surgery, short-term rehabilitation, stroke and heart attack care.

“Through creative thinking and innovation, we will continue developing ways to provide increased access to essential health care within Rome and our region,” Czyz said.

Expanded access to primary and specialty care

In 2022, Rome Health practices added 12 new providers, including two physicians and five nurse practitioners, to meet the primary care needs of adults and children n the community. The new primary care providers are located at the new medical center on the hospital’s main campus. With the addition of an OB/GYN and three nurse practitioners who focus on women’s health, more women can now get obstetrics and gynecology care.

Rome Health also collaborated with Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) to expand local access to leading edge hip and knee joint care in Rome. A team of SOS joint replacement surgeons is working together with Rome Health’s orthopedic team at Rome Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, located in Chestnut Commons. The practice also welcomed a specialist in sports medicine and will add two additional orthopedic surgeons this year.

New medical center now open

Rome Health opened its new $11.4 million medical center on its main campus to bring together primary care, specialty care, diagnostic testing and pharmacy in one convenient location. The medical center’s design supports providers and their care teams in delivering patient-centered care that is efficient and convenient.

There are six care team pods with a total of 42 exam rooms. The innovative pod design includes six exam rooms with adjacent space for the care team and the providers to collaborate. The proximity of adjacent services at the hospital, including medical imaging, cardiopulmonary services and cardiology, further enhances accessibility for patients who may need multiple services.

2 East renovations completed

The rooms on the medical/surgical unit on 2 East were completely remodeled to create a calm environment for patients and to set up four bariatric-friendly rooms as the hospital’s Comprehensive Bariatric Center program continues to grow.

Dedicated women’s surgical suite

Rome Health is constructing a new surgical suite for women, which is expected to be finished this spring. The new dedicated C-section suite is located adjacent to the Maternity Department on the fourth floor.

It is named in honor of Dr. Lauren Giustra and Dr. Ankur Desai, two obstetrician/gynecologists who have served this community since they opened their practice in Rome more than 25 years ago.

Most of the capital project is being paid for by federal grant money that the county is investing to make sure that women in Rome and the surrounding areas have easy access to the best maternity care.

Nationally recognized for quality

Rome Health’s multidisciplinary teams are dedicated to continuous quality improvement. They work together to implement processes that support the consistent delivery of evidence-based care. The hospital’s efforts have been recognized locally and nationally.

The Midstate Regional Emergency Medical Services Council recognized Rome Health’s Emergency Department for remaining open and accessible even as the Emergency Department volume surged with each COVID wave. The team was recognized for never turning away EMS units and working quickly to get EMS units back into service to meet the community’s needs.

U.S. News & World Report has named Rome Health as a High Performing hospital for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy). This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has selected the hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery demonstrate expertise in cervical and lumbar fusion, cervical laminectomy, and lumbar laminectomy/discectomy procedures, resulting in fewer patient complications and readmissions compared to other hospitals.

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has named the hospital a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery and a Blue Distinction + Center for Maternity Care as part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities that show a commitment to delivering high quality patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.

Rome Health received the American Heart Association’s SilverPlus Get With The Guidelines — Stroke quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

The hospital also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Type 2 Honor Roll award. Target: Type 2 Diabetes aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Boonville Health Center has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning Gold Plus-level recognition as part of the Target: BP initiative.

Camden Health Center has been recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning Silver level recognition as part of the Target: BP initiative.

Rome Health has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Nursing Home for the fourth year in a row. The RHCF achieved a rating of High Performing, the highest possible rating, for short-term rehabilitation.

The RHCF is also rated 5-stars by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and has been ranked in the top 20% of skilled nursing facilities for seven consecutive years by the New York State Nursing Home Quality Initiative.