Assembly Resolution No. 2419

BY: M. of A. Miller

COMMEMORATING the 125th Anniversary of Oneida
Health

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
institutions which have faithfully served the health needs of the
community and its citizens with unwavering diligence, unrelenting
compassion, and a strong sense of commitment to upholding the highest
practices and standards in their field; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of Oneida Health; and

WHEREAS, In 1894, a railroad accident in Oneida brought to light the
need for immediate health care services; with a makeshift treatment room
established at the Presbyterian Church to treat the railroad victims,
the concept of delivering organized healthcare services in the community
was born; and

WHEREAS, In 1899, Oneida Mayor, J.M. Goldstein donated a plot of
land on Williams Street and Oneida Health opened the doors to its first
hospital, a four-bed city-operated facility; after an expansion a few
years later, it was clear more was needed, and the first Broad Street
Hospital was built in 1906, followed by a new 80-bed Board Street
facility in 1938; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, a 126-bed hospital opened its doors at 321 Genesee
Street which serves as the hospital's primary location today, and two
years later, the Broad Street facility was converted into a skilled
nursing facility, marking the beginning stages of Oneida Health's
healthcare system; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Oneida Health saw
tremendous growth in services offered with the expansion of outpatient
locations; this transformed Oneida Health into an integrated healthcare
system; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing the need for primary and preventive care
services, Oneida Health opened its first outpatient office in Camden in
1991 marking the beginning of what is now a six-location primary care
network with 18 primary care providers; to support access to diagnostic
services, Oneida Health expanded its lab and imaging services with the
development of five outpatient lab draw locations and two outpatient
imaging centers; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the expansion of primary care, Oneida Health
recognized the need for increased access to specialty services close to
home; this commitment has created an integrated healthcare network
offering specialty services that include: allergy; breast surgery;
cardiology; convenient care; ear, nose, and throat; gastroenterology;
neurology; obstetrics and gynecology; oncology; orthopedics; podiatry;
pulmonology; sleep; vascular; and wound care; and

WHEREAS, With a strong belief in leading-edge technology, in 2002,
Oneida Health was the first hospital in Central New York (CNY) to
introduce computer aided mammography; this was later followed by being
among the first in CNY to invest in 3D mammography, the new gold
standard in early breast cancer detection; this revered healthcare
system also has instituted robotic surgery in 2012 to provide TrueBeam
radiotherapy, the most advanced linear accelerator and radiosurgery
treatment system available; and

WHEREAS, By developing strategic partnerships, Oneida Health is able
to bring in a high level of expertise in specialized areas to become
operational in a short time frame; the William L. Griffin Medical
Oncology Center, Dorothy G. Griffin Radiation Oncology Center, and the
Oneida Health Wound Care Center are shining examples of the result of
such impactful partnerships and collaborations with entities such as
Roswell Health Network and Restorix, bringing nuanced and vital care
close to home for many residents; and

WHEREAS, A testament to its dedication to outstanding service,
compassionate patient care, extensive knowledge, and vast treatment
opportunities, Oneida Health has received the following distinctions:
the region's only 5-star rated hospital by the Centers for Medicaid and
Medicare (CMS) for quality care in 2021; ranked in the top 2% of
hospitals nationally for patient safety and patient experience by
Healthgrades in 2019; Women's Choice Award for Best 100 Hospitals for
Patient Experience four years in a row, 2020-2023; and is a five-star
recipient for Vaginal Delivery from Healthgrades for 5 years in a row
(2015-2019); and

WHEREAS, A pillar of its community, Oneida Health today includes a
101-bed acute care hospital, state-of-the-art robotic surgery center,
160 bed extended-care facility, multiple primary and urgent care
offices, comprehensive lab and imaging services, outpatient and
inpatient therapy, and a variety of specialty services providing care to
approximately 29 communities with a population of over a 100,000
throughout Madison and Oneida counties; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Oneida Health is in direct correlation
to the efforts of its host of dedicated leaders, doctors, nurses,
support staff, and community groups and volunteers, whose involvement
is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive commitment, an
unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising standard of excellence in
all endeavors on behalf of the organization and the community it serves;
and

WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body
acknowledges this exceptional institution and its vibrant role in
improving the quality of life in its community, fully confident it will
continue to enjoy the same sparkling successes it has experienced thus
far; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 125th Anniversary of Oneida Health; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Oneida Health.