With the culmination of their final inclusion, Rochester Regional Health System welcomed Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic to its group.

In order to better serve the now five hospitals in the system: (Rochester General, Unity Health, Newark Wayne Hospital, Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic, and United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia), a few new Regional Presidents were announced to oversee the many collaborating services and personnel.

The latest to join the administration is Dr. Dustin Riccio, who will hold the title of Regional President of Operations, overseeing activities at the Clifton Springs and Newark Wayne facilities.

“The hospitals will retain their names and identities in the community,” explained Dr. Riccio. “This mirrors a national trend to stay local.” He noted that, geographically the two hospitals are just 9 miles apart. “There are synergies that we want to retain and we will share some staff and certainly services,” said the Regional President. “Eventually we also plan to share supply chains and reach that economy of scale that we aim for.”

Dr. Riccio will oversee clinical coordination efforts to provide local access to comprehensive, leading-edge health services. “People in rural areas shouldn’t need to travel out of town to receive exceptional care,” Dr. Riccio said. “Together, and as part of our larger health system, these two hospitals will deliver on our commitment to raise the standards of community health.”

Each facility has a specialty or department that the other will now have available to all their patients. Newark-Wayne has a Labor and Delivery Maternity Department, and Clifton Springs has Interventional Radiology. Sharing services is one of the goals in the forming of the Rochester Regional Health System.

“It is our vision to be a leader in the evolution of health care and to enable the people in the communities we serve to enjoy better, healthier lives. The addition of Clifton Springs to our health system helps us to achieve this bold vision,” said Eric J. Bieber, MD, president and CEO, Rochester Regional Health System. “We are delighted to have them join our family, so that Clifton Springs can continue to serve yours.”

Riccio received his pre-med college studies at Bucknell University where he received a BA in Biology, then earned his Medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, where he also completed his three year residency in Emergency Medicine. Additionally, Dustin has an MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester.

Dr. Riccio recalled that it was stories from his grandfather Eugene Riccio, that led him to his calling.

“I remember him telling me wonderful stories about having just one doctor, who took care of everything. He loved his doctor and respected him and it made me want to have a career with that kind of impact on people.”

Prior to coming on board with the oversight of Newark Wayne Community Hosptial/Clifton Springs Hospital and Clinic, Dr. Riccio had been Chair of Unity Hospital’s Emergency Center. He held positions there as Associate Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, and President-elect of the Unity Medical Staff and Chair of the Hospital Code Committee. He has served also as medical director of the Greece Volunteer Ambulance Service.

Dr. Riccio currently is certified in New York State as Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, and American Board of Emergency Medicine Diplomat.

We continue to grow and serve and build on great patient experiences. We will also continue to integrate our services, while keeping the identities of both hospitals intact. “We want them to have the heart of their neighborhoods. My goal is to make these the best rural hospitals out there.”

One of the things that the merging of services between these hospitals will allow, according to the doctor is quick patient transfer if there is overcapacity, or a backlog in emergency care.

Dr. Riccio also acknowledged that his experience so far working at the Newark Wayne Hospital is the great camaraderie with the other doctors and staff. “These are great, caring people.”

Riccio’s goals, going forward are to continue to integrate services, continue to increase the quality of the patience experience, and maintain and improve system level initiatives.