Mohawk Valley Health System Renames Primary Care and Specialty Groups

The MVHS Medical Group Management Team (left to right) is Mamie Bowdish Aquino, Christine Grabski, RN, Brad Crysler, Shannon Mathewson, Dr. Michael Attilio, Karen Casab, RN, Amy Ferguson-Victor and Marie Barnes.

UTICA –Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC) affiliated in 2014 to form the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). As MVHS celebrates its first anniversary, the medical group offices of the two former organizations have joined together under a common name: MVHS Medical Group. The new primary and specialty care network encompasses 32 locations and 130 providers. Last year, the two groups combined had more than 272,600 patient visits.

“Although the name MVHS Medical Group replaces the names of Adirondack Community Physicians (ACP) and St. Elizabeth Medical Group, patients and their families will see few, if any, changes,” said Michael Attilio, MD, medical director for the MVHS Medical Group. “They will still see their same physicians and providers at the same locations.Patients may also continue to use theironline patient portals.”

The ACP medical offices are accredited as a Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). The recognition notes their use of evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term provider/patient relationships.

“The Patient Centered Medical Home is a model of care that holds significant promise for better healthcare quality, improved involvement of patients in their own care and a reduction of avoidable treatments and costs over time,” said Brad Crysler, executive director of the MVHS Medical Group. “The model promotes partnerships between each patient and his/her provider. The provider manages the office visit and works with referral physicians throughout the treatment of the patient. We anticipate that in the coming year our entire MVHS medical group will be moving to this model of care.”

Setting up the practices to be more accessible to patients with pro-active follow up means healthier patients, who have fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits in the long run.

“One advantage we have as a large group is our ability to have office locations and provide services throughout the Mohawk Valley,” notes Dr. Attilio. “Our future goals include looking at areas that are underserved, lacking primary care providers, and expanding our reach to make primary and specialty care more accessible. Another advantage is our relationship with the SEMC Family Medicine Residency Program. Working with physicians who are completing their residency in our area at one of our affiliated hospitals provides us with increased opportunities for physician recruitment.”

“The collaboration of our two medical groups is a very positive step for health care in our communities,” said Crysler. “We are excited about our future and the impact we will be able to make as we care for our patients and families.”

Office locations include Barneveld, Boonville, Clinton, Herkimer, Little Falls, Mohawk, New Hartford, Utica, Sauquoit, Town of Webb (Old Forge), Washington Mills, Waterville and Whitesboro.

To view an updated list of providers and the 19 primary care locations, visit http://www.faxtonstlukes.com/adirondack-community-physicians or http://www.stemc.org/community-locations/. In addition, there are a Children’s Health Center, a Women’s Health Center, general, orthopedic and neurological surgeons’ offices, a Breast Care Center and two Urgent Care centers available through the group. 

Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center are affiliates under the Mohawk Valley Health System.