October 7, 2021

37 New York facilities achieve IHI’s Age-Friendly Health System designation after participating in HANYS-led program

Total healthcare facilities recognized for adopting evidence-based interventions to improve care for older adults in New York nearly doubles; Enrollment now open for next HANYS-led New York State Age-Friendly Action Community cohort

Rensselaer, NY — The Healthcare Association of New York State is pleased to announce 37 New York hospitals, ambulatory practices, post-acute care facilities and federally qualified health centers were designated Age-Friendly Health Systems by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement after participating in the first cohort of the HANYS-led New York State Age-Friendly Health Systems Action Community. With support from the New York State Department of Health, the program launched in November 2020 and ran through August 2021; the designation of 37 participants to date has nearly doubled the number of New York facilities IHI has recognized for adopting evidence-based interventions to improve care for older adults.

“This Action Community kicked off at the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic, but our cohort was undeterred,” said Bea Grause, RN, JD, president, HANYS. “COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on older adults, magnifying the importance of using practices tailored to that population. We are thrilled to celebrate the work of the professionals at these 37 facilities, and we look forward to building on this success with the next cohort.”

Age-Friendly Health Systems is an initiative of The John A. Hartford Foundation and IHI, in partnership with the American Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States. According to IHI, “Being an Age-Friendly Health System entails reliably providing a set of four evidence-based elements of high-quality care, known as the ‘4Ms,’ to all older adults in your system: What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility.” The 4Ms model focuses on what matters most to the older adult and their caregivers, aligning the care plan with their unique goals.

The members of HANYS’ initial New York State Age-Friendly Action Community cohort learned to identify and address common risks during hospitalization, discharge planning and care transitions, while optimizing their patients’ physical function and independence, supporting caregivers and strengthening coordination between settings and providers.

“Older adults and their families in New York state have a reason to celebrate with 37 healthcare facilities achieving recognition for delivering evidence-based, age-friendly care focused on what matters most to them, and we know this is only the beginning!” said Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation. “We congratulate each of these sites and thank HANYS, the New York State Department of Health and all of our partners for their commitment to improving outcomes for older adults.”

Enrollment is now open for the second HANYS-led New York State Age-Friendly Action Community cohort, launching in November. Thanks to generous support from the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, the New York State Health Foundation and the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, there is no fee to participate. HANYS will provide $10,000 grants to up to 20 participant organizations that demonstrate financial need. These funds are intended to offset the cost of staff hours dedicated to the Age-Friendly initiative.

To reserve your spot in the next cohort, please email Morgan Black, Age-Friendly Health Systems program manager, HANYS, at mblack@hanys.org.

The 37 cohort participants designated Age-Friendly by IHI to date are:

Bassett Healthcare Network – Little Falls Hospital
Bassett Healthcare Network – O’Connor Hospital
Crouse Health
University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital – Inpatient Nursing Unit
Erie County Medical Center
Institute for Family Health – Ambulatory Clinic: Family Health Center of Harlem
Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
Janian Medical Care
Montefiore Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's Disease
Mount Sinai Health System – Mount Sinai South Nassau
Northwell Health – Glen Cove Family Medicine Group
Northwell Health – Long Island Jewish Forest Hills
Northwell Health – Mather Hospital
Northwell Health – North Shore University Hospital
Northwell Health – Phelps Hospital
Northwell Health – Plainview Hospital
Northwell Health Primary Care
Rochester Regional Health – Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic
Rochester Regional Health – Clifton Springs Living Center
Rochester Regional Health – DeMay Living Center
Rochester Regional Health – Edna Tina Wilson Living Center
Rochester Regional Health – ElderOne
Rochester Regional Health – Newark Wayne Community Hospital
Rochester Regional Health – Park Ridge Living Center
Rochester Regional Health – United Memorial Medical Center - Hospital
Rochester Regional Health – Unity Hospital
Rochester Regional Health – Unity Living Center
Saratoga Hospital Medical Group
SBH Health System - St. Barnabas Geriatrics Ambulatory Clinic
SBH Health System - St. Barnabas Hospital (Emergency Department and Geriatric Inpatient Unit)
United Health Services Hospitals – Endwell Primary Care
United Health Services Hospitals – Upper Front Street Primary Care
United Health Services Hospitals – Vestal Primary Care
University of Rochester Medical Center – Nicholas H. Noyes Memorial Hospital
Veterans Health Administration – Northport VA Community Living Center
Veterans Health Administration – Northport VA Home Based Primary Care
Wyoming County Community Health System – Wyoming County Community Hospital

About HANYS

The Healthcare Association of New York State is New York’s statewide hospital and continuing care association, representing nonprofit and public hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and other healthcare organizations. HANYS is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the health of individuals and communities by providing leadership, representation and service to healthcare providers and systems across the entire continuum of care.