TOWN OF WALLKILL – Citing two years of making “difficult yet necessary decisions” given the economy and state of health care delivery, Garnet Health System President and CEO Jonathan Schiller announced on Wednesday that they have signed a letter of intent to pursue an affiliation with Montefiore Health System.
He said the decision was made “with great care and a deep sense of responsibility to our patients, our staff, and the communities we serve.”
In a note to the Garnet Health family he wrote over the past two years, he has had to make difficult, yet necessary decisions, including reducing some clinical services and cutting the size of the workforce.
“While these actions were necessary, continued cuts will not lead us to prosperity,” Schiller said. He said pursuing the affiliation is the right next step “to protect and strengthen the high- quality care our community depends on” given rising costs, healthcare workforce shortages, declining reimbursement rates, shifting payer mix, and ongoing regulatory policy changes.
Schiller said the hospital will continue to operate as Garnet Health, “with our leadership, our people, and our spirit intact.” He said what will change are the “possibilities, the ability to grow, to innovate, and to ensure that our legacy of compassionate, community-focused care continues for generations to come.
“Montefiore Health System knows what it takes to deliver excellent care at a community level while offering access to world-class, academic medical expertise,” said Dr. Phillip Ozuah, president and CEO, Montefiore Einstein. “We look forward to the opportunity to welcome Garnet Health into the Montefiore family. Together, we share a deep commitment to local healthcare access, clinical excellence, and community care.”
The two organizations plan to conduct due diligence and finalize definitive agreements by the end of 2025, followed by the pursuit of required regulatory approvals.
St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital is also affiliated with Montefiore as is Nyack Hospital.
The other two hospitals in Orange County, Bon Secours Community in Port Jervis, and St. Anthony’s in Warwick, are part of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network.