Two prominent Rochester-based public health organizations, Common Ground Health and Rochester Regional Health Information Organization (RRHIO), have announced their merger to form a new entity aimed at addressing health disparities more effectively. This strategic union is designed to bridge the gap between data analysis and community action, leveraging the strengths of both organizations to improve public health outcomes in the region.
Common Ground Health, known for its data analysis and community engagement, will combine forces with RRHIO, which specializes in identifying clinical and social needs of various communities through data. The merger aims to create a more powerful approach to tackling systemic disparities in healthcare.
Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground Health, emphasized the complementary nature of the merger, stating, “What we bring to the table is the incredible knowledge of how to engage, respond and listen to community, so that data becomes actionable information, and information becomes understanding.” This synergy is expected to enhance the new organization’s ability to drive meaningful change in public health.
Marlene Bessette, CEO of RRHIO, clarified that the merger’s purpose extends beyond traditional corporate efficiency goals. “We’re not doing this in the traditional for-profit corporate merger sense, where they just want to drive efficiencies,” Bessette explained. “We’re doing this so that we could do more.” The combined entity aims to empower communities by helping “people help themselves.”
The merger represents a culmination of nearly a decade of collaboration between the two organizations. Both Norwood and Bessette will serve as co-CEOs of the new entity, which is set to unveil its shared identity by spring. This union promises to create a more robust and responsive public health organization, better equipped to address the complex health challenges facing Rochester’s diverse communities.
See: “Local nonprofits merge to better address public health disparities” (December 16, 2024)
