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When patients walk into Planned Parenthood health centers in Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties, they will soon be walking into the same organization. After months of discussions, Planned Parenthood of Northern New York (PPNNY) and Northern Adirondack Planned Parenthood (NAPP) have voted to formally merge their affiliates.
“This is an incredible growth opportunity,” said Kathie Wunderlich, CEO at NAPP. “We are blending two successful affiliates into a single organization. We can do more together that than we could accomplish on our own.” She added, “This partnership will strengthen our core services and provide growth opportunities that would not be possible on our own.”
PPNNY and NAPP both operate family planning health centers that provide sexual and reproductive health care for women, men and teens regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. PPNNY has served Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties for more than 30 years, since its first health center opened on Park Place in Watertown. NAPP has provided health care to people living Clinton county since opening in Plattsburgh in 1971 and in Franklin county since 1982.
“For three decades, our agencies have provided similar services to similar patient populations in neighboring communities,” Ruth-Ellen Blodgett, CEO of PPNNY. “By joining forces, we will make both organizations stronger and provide a more secure service delivery system to reach the greatest number of patients and other clients. We each have a great deal to offer the other.”
During the merger process, patients at the health centers will not see much of a difference, Ms. Wunderlich said. Both agencies will keep all their current staff. The mission and services at both agencies will remain the same. Merging the two agencies makes good business sense, Ms. Wunderlich said. Larger organizations can purchase products and services at a lower cost and are also better able to weather financial challenges such as outdated Medicaid reimbursement rates and uncertain state funding. Larger organizations can also take advantage of opportunities to improve efficiency and quality – such as an electronic health record system – that small organizations couldn’t afford. And as a single organization, PPNNY and NAPP will be able to reduce their overhead and management costs, attract staff, and increase opportunities for fund development and building local grassroots support and advocacy at state and national levels.
It is anticipated that the merged organization will become official in early 2009.
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