2026 Friends of Bassett Quarterly News | | |
Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network is dedicated to supporting exceptional healthcare services right here in our communities. Our mission is to ensure that you and your loved ones have access to top-notch medical care without having to travel far from home. We are so grateful to our many generous supporters. | | |
Dear Friends,
As we begin 2026, I’m pleased to share encouraging news about the progress taking place across Bassett Healthcare Network.
After several challenging years for rural healthcare systems nationwide, Bassett has made remarkable strides toward a better future by stabilizing operations, strengthening services, and building momentum for the future.
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This progress is the result of extraordinary dedication from Bassett’s physicians, nurses, leadership, and staff, combined with the steadfast support of donors like you. Your generosity ensures that vital programs, ranging from school-based health and nursing education to cancer care and agricultural safety, continue to serve our communities.
In this newsletter, you’ll see how that partnership is making a difference by advancing lifesaving programs, expanding access to care, and investing in the people who make Bassett special. Together, we are helping Bassett move forward with renewed strength and confidence.
Thank you for believing in this mission and for standing with Bassett and the communities it serves.
With Gratitude,
Steven Kroll
Chair, Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network Board of Directors
| | Momentum Carries Bassett into 2026 | | |
Staci Thompson
President & CEO, Bassett Healthcare Network
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Bassett Healthcare Network recently announced a projected positive operating margin for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. This is a remarkable turnaround from a negative margin of approximately $60 million in 2023 and $55 million in 2024. This is more than financial recovery. This shift reflects the disciplined strategy, operational focus, and collective dedication shared by thousands of Bassett’s employees.
President & CEO Staci Thompson credits the improvement to stabilization initiatives launched in 2024 and the extraordinary efforts of practitioners, clinical leaders, staff, and the executive leadership team.
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As Dr. Henry Weil, Chief Clinical & Academic Officer of Bassett Healthcare Network and President of Bassett Medical Center shared, the organization has navigated some of the most difficult challenges facing rural healthcare and emerged stronger, more focused, and energized.
The forward motion also extends beyond financial performance.
Inpatient admissions have increased 13% since 2023, and outpatient clinic visits are up 8% over three years. In 2025 alone, 86 new practitioners joined Bassett, with 40 more already signed to begin in 2026. More patients are choosing Bassett for care, and more professionals are choosing Bassett to build their careers.
That momentum continues this year with the launch of a 2026–2028 strategic plan focused on three pillars: growth and access, quality and care innovation, and recruitment and retention.
For our donors and supporters, this progress highlights the power of partnership. Your belief in Bassett, even during uncertain times, helped sustain the work that made this turnaround possible.
Momentum is built through vision, resilience, and shared commitment.
As we look ahead, Bassett Healthcare Network is stable, growing, and focused on expanding access to the excellent care our communities depend on. Together, we are both navigating change and moving forward with confidence.
| | Federal Legislation Introduced to Strengthen National ROPS Rebate Program | | |
The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH), a program of Bassett Healthcare Network, recently joined Congressman Josh Riley (NY-19) to announce bipartisan legislation that would secure federal funding for the National ROPS Rebate Program (NRRP).
Originally launched by NYCAMH in 2006, the NRRP helps farmers afford the installation of rollover protective structures (ROPS) on their tractors. This equipment is 99% effective in preventing death during tractor overturns. Since its founding, more than 3,700 life-saving roll bars have been installed, with thousands more farmers currently on a waiting list.
The proposed Tractor Safety Act would reinvest in the NRRP, expanding access to this proven, life-saving program nationwide. A companion bill has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
Many Friends of Bassett donors generously support NYCAMH, the ROPS Rebate Program, and similar efforts. This federal action demonstrates the powerful, expansive impact of programs that begin right here in our region.
Read the Full Press Release
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Cobleskill Regional Hospital Marks 15 Years
of Excellence in Sleep Care
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Cobleskill Regional Hospital has reached an important milestone: its Sleep Center is celebrating 15 consecutive years of accreditation from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the gold standard in sleep care.
This achievement reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality diagnosis and treatment for sleep disorders that affect the health and well-being of our community. At the Sleep Center, specialists help patients manage conditions such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Chronic Insomnia, Restless Legs Syndrome, and Narcolepsy.
Under the leadership of Sleep Center Director Dr. Abigail Quintos, the team conducts sleep studies six nights a week in private rooms and provides a wide range of therapies and care options for patients across the region. The milestone also honors the early leadership of Dr. Lee Edmonds and the ongoing dedication of Sleep Labs Manager Kelly Cleaveland.
Maintaining accreditation for 15 years demonstrates the program’s commitment to rigorous national standards and to improving the quality life for people living with sleep disorders.
Your generous gifts to Cobleskill Regional Hospital help ensure that many specialized services like sleep medicine remain available close to home, allowing patients in our rural communities access high-quality care without traveling far from their families and support systems.
Read the full story to learn more about this milestone and the impact of the Sleep Disorders Program.
| | Bassett School-Based Health: Keeping Kids Healthy and Learning | | |
Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network is pleased to announce that the proceeds from the 2026 Fall Reception will benefit Bassett’s School-Based Health program, a lifeline for children and families that delivers medical, dental, and mental healthcare directly in schools with no out-of-pocket cost to families. Serving over 7,600 students across 22 schools in 17 districts, the program keeps kids healthy and in class, while allowing parents to stay at work. As one parent shared: “Every child deserves the opportunity to receive the care they need to thrive, and this program is a critical part of making that possible.”
Thanks to generous donors and grant makers, this program continues to grow – but an annual $2 million funding gap means the program always urgently needs support. Join us in sustaining this vital program. Just $300 helps bridge the gap and provides essential healthcare to a student for an entire year.
Click here to make a difference in the life of a student.
| | Supporting the Nurses Who Care for Our Communities | | |
Every day across Bassett Healthcare Network, nurses provide patients and families with compassionate care, comfort, and lifesaving expertise, when it matters most. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Nightingale Fund for Nursing Excellence helps ensure these dedicated professionals have opportunities to grow, learn, and lead.
Originally established in 2007 by longtime Bassett nurse Maureen Murray, the fund supports continuing education, professional development, and recognition for nurses across all five Bassett hospitals. In 2025 alone, more than $53,000 was invested in 43 nurses, helping them attend conferences, pursue certifications, and gain skills that directly enhance patient care.
When nurses can advance their knowledge and leadership, the entire community benefits —patients receive better care, and Bassett can continue attracting and retaining the talented nurses our region depends on.
Your support helps remove financial barriers and empowers nurses to continue learning, innovating, and delivering exceptional care close to home.
To learn more about the Nightingale Fund for Nursing Excellence and how you can support Bassett nurses, visit: Nursing Education.
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Cancer Clinic Expansion Now Underway —Thank you
for Making it Possible
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Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donor community, the long-planned expansion of cancer services in Oneonta is now officially underway. This important project will expand care at Bassett Cancer Institute at FoxCare Center—one of the busiest cancer clinics in Bassett Healthcare Network—helping ensure that patients across our rural region can receive life-saving treatment close to home.
Each year, more people in our communities turn to Bassett Cancer Institute for care. In 2025 alone, more than 34,000 cancer visits took place across the network, including nearly 13,000 visits in Oneonta. The expansion will help meet this growing need by improving the clinic’s capacity and creating a more comfortable, efficient space for patients and their care teams.
Your generosity has brought us remarkably close to the finish line. Together, donors and community partners have already raised $2.7 million toward our $3 million goal. The construction’s first phase is expected to be completed by June 2026, with the second phase planned for early 2027. The campaign will also support a new mobile cancer screening coach that will travel throughout Bassett’s eight-county region bringing early detection services to rural communities.
Because of you, this vision is becoming a reality. With just $264,000 left to raise, we are closer than ever to ensuring that more patients can access high-quality cancer care.
Click here to help bring this life-saving project to life.
| Epic Systems Helps Launch New Patient Assistance Fund | |
Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network is proud to announce that Epic Systems has generously awarded a $22,000 grant to establish the new Bassett Healthcare Network Patient Assistance Fund, becoming the inaugural supporter of this vital fund.
The new network-wide patient assistance fund will help uninsured and underinsured patients who face unmet medical expenses that fall outside traditional financial assistance guidelines. Support from this fund can help cover high co-pays, medications, and other essential healthcare costs.
This generous grant will allow Bassett to assist patients, regardless of what Bassett facility they visit, who might otherwise struggle to afford the care they need. With nearly 700,000 patients served each year, and many facing increasing financial strain, this fund will serve as a critical lifeline for individuals and families across our communities.
We are deeply grateful to Epic Systems for making it possible to launch this important initiative and begin helping patients when they need it most.
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If you stop by a Mirabito gas station at any point this month, please consider participating in the Mirabito Cares March 2026 Round Up! Friends of Bassett is one of this month’s beneficiaries.
During the month of March, customers at all 112 Mirabito locations will be invited to round up their in-store purchases to the nearest dollar. Funding we receive will go to our School-Based Health Program, which provides preventive pediatric medical, dental, and mental health services at no out-of-pocket cost to students in 17 local school districts, directly inside their school buildings.
| | Click to read coverage from WIVT | | Join the Pillars of Health: Make a Lasting Impact | | |
At Bassett Healthcare Network, every gift—big or small—helps strengthen the foundation of care that our communities rely on. But when you choose to give monthly, your generosity creates an even greater, more lasting impact.
By joining our Pillars of Health monthly donor program, you will become part of a dedicated group committed to sustaining high-quality, compassionate healthcare for generations to come. Your recurring gift provides a steady, reliable source of funding that enables innovation, enhances patient care, and ensures that lifesaving services remain accessible to families, friends, and neighbors.
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As a special thank you, all new monthly donor sign-ups of $30 or more will receive a complimentary Pillars of Health tote bag.
We also want to recognize our dedicated employee donors: If you sign up for a new or increased payroll deduction of $15 bi-weekly or $30 monthly, you'll receive a tote as well! Sign up or increase your payroll deduction HERE.
We hope you'll proudly carry your tote bag to show your commitment to keeping our communities healthy!
| Be the foundation of healthcare excellence. Become a Pillar of Health today! | | |
Bassett Healthcare Network Golf Invitational
Thursday, May 28th
Leatherstocking Golf Course
Join us for a day on the greens at the beautiful Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown. The Golf Invitational brings together supporters and Friends of Bassett for a fun and meaningful day of golf while raising funds to support patient care and programs across the network.
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National Cancer Survivors Day
Sunday, June 7th
Fenimore Farm & Country Village
Celebrate strength, resilience, and hope as we honor cancer survivors and the families and caregivers who support them. This inspiring community event brings people together to enjoy a lunch, share stories, and talk about progress in cancer care.
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President’s Breakfast
Thursday, June 18th
The Otesaga Resort Hotel
Hosted by Staci Thompson, MHA, FACMPE, President & CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network, this prestigious breakfast provides businesses, Bassett leaders, community members, and Bassett donors the opportunity to network together. Proceeds are designated to the Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network Annual Fund.
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Friends of Bassett Healthcare Network Fall Reception
Friday, September 18th
Fenimore Farm & Country Village
The annual Fall Reception brings the community together for an evening of celebration and philanthropy. This year, proceeds from the event will benefit Bassett’s School-Based Health Program, helping to expand access to care for students across our region.
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