ITHACA, N.Y.—Cayuga Health System and Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services (CARS) have announced a formalization of their relationship, making the two healthcare entities officially affiliated. In the announcement, the two sides said the full affiliation process will “be completed over the next several months.”
CARS is one of the most prominent addiction treatment organizations locally, operating an out-patient facility in downtown Ithaca and an in-patient residence facility, which is expanding, in Trumansburg (currently that location only serves men, but a women’s facility is being built). Cayuga Health, meanwhile, operates Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca and Schuyler County Hospital in Montour Falls, NY.
“We are very pleased to announce this partnership with Cayuga Addiction Recovery Services,” said Dr. Martin Stallone, President & CEO of Cayuga Health. “Addiction continues to be a growing problem throughout society. As health care providers and a community health system, we need to make sure we have treatment and support across a multitude of disciplines. Although we have worked closely with C.A.R.S. for decades, once finalized, this new interdependent relationship will bring a new level of clinical expertise and services within our health system providing continuity and efficiencies for patient recovery care, right here.”
Requests for comment from Cayuga Health officials were not yet returned, seeking clarification of whether or not Cayuga Health is acquiring CARS and whether or not the affiliation would change anything about CARS’ operations locally. It appears the ramifications will become clearer as the terms of the affiliation are negotiated.
“We are still in the early stages of the affiliation and going through the due diligence process,” said Brad Walworth, spokesperson for CARS.
CARS Board of Directors President Dale Johnson called the move “a logical next step” in the relationship with CHS. “It allows for control of our organization and gives us the opportunity to transition to an environment we are very comfortable with.”
“Once completed, we expect this partnership to be seamless for our clients and our team of experienced clinicians, nurses and counselors,” states Jessica Janssen, C.A.R.S. CEO. “We have already established a great working relationship with Cayuga Health, and they have been an outstanding community partner over the years. This new structure will create a mutually reliant framework between our organizations that will benefit the community and improve services.”
Cayuga Health will continue to work with local addiction recovery services as they have done in the past.