MASSENA — After three years of research, analysis and discussion the Massena Memorial Hospital Board of Managers have selected Crouse Hospital and Claxton Hepburn Medical Center/North Star Health Alliance as a potential partner to develop an affiliation as the hospital transforms to a non-profit 501c3 acute care community hospital.

The hospital’s Board of Managers is recommending moving into further discussions and negotiations with Crouse Hospital and Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center/North Star Health Alliance, with the purpose of an affiliation agreement.

“This is an important step in the process of ensuring that Massena Memorial Hospital is a healthy North Country institution for years to come,” Massena Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer Chuck Gijanto said in a prepared statement.

The board of managers and the Town of Massena have completed a draft of the Asset Transfer Agreement, ATA, but it is on hold until New York State Department of Health announces and awards the Statewide Healthcare Facility Transformation Program II (Phase II) grant, a press release from MMH said.

MMH says some of the criteria used to determine the best long-term affiliation include:

• Commitment to maintaining a full service hospital in Massena for the communities it serves

• Continued local input and influence by the hospital board

• A cultural fit between the two hospitals

• Commitment to development and growth of additional providers and services based on the Massena Memorial Hospital strategic business plan; as well as

• Development of a robust Telemedicine Program

• Shared expertise in Population Health and Wellness

• Accountable Care and Valued Based Payments

“The Board of Managers have spent a long time in evaluating what is best for the communities we serve in delivering healthcare," Sue Bellor, MMH Board of Managers chair-elect said in a prepared statement. "We have carefully evaluated numerous proposals to find the organization that best meets our values and mission and will be committed to the region and the healthcare needs of Massena. We're truly enthusiastic about the future of our hospital and look forward to all of the benefits that will come from a successful affiliation."

Additionally, Bellor said, the town board and supervisor recently indicated that they hoped the hospital Board of Managers would have a recommendation by the end of the year. “The MMH Board is excited to be announcing these next steps toward the end with an affiliation plan,” she said.

In 2016, Massena Memorial Hospital was granted a Certificate of Need for the establishment of a new non-profit corporation-the same structure as the majority of hospitals in state by the New York State Public Health and Health Planning Committee. "Establishing non-profit status was the first step in MMH’s plans to improve financial sustainability permanence," a news release says.

As a non-profit hospital, MMH can work with an affiliation that officials say "will help preserve and create good paying jobs and continue to provide quality healthcare for the community for years to come." The Certificate of Need was required for the establishment of a non-profit corporation and the transfer of the hospital operating license from the Town of Massena.

“We’re proud of the high-quality care our employees provide to the residents of the greater Massena area, and look forward to continuing that service long after our future affiliation is finalized. Our goal is to keep services and jobs local at Massena Memorial Hospital and build our service offerings in the Massena area,” Gijanto said in the release.