MJHS, a leading not-for-profit health system in Greater New York, has today announced that Isabella Geriatric Center (Isabella), a 705-bed residential health care facility providing comprehensive rehabilitation and nursing care located in upper Manhattan, has become an affiliated agency, effective immediately. Under terms of this affiliation with MJHS Health System, Isabella will remain a separate corporation, but will share clinical expertise, infrastructure and core business functions with MJHS. The goal of the affiliation is to improve scale, reach, efficiency and stability. Isabella will be referred to as a member of the MJHS Health System.

"In today's health care environment, it has become essential for not-for-profit organizations to form strong relationships," said Arthur Goshin, MD, chair of the MJHS Health System board of directors.

"With this affiliation, Isabella receives much needed scale and stability and MJHS Health System will be able to expand its innovative programs and services within upper Manhattan. In the process, both organizations expect to achieve greater efficiencies and opportunities to flourish."

Isabella and MJHS Health System share rich histories that date back more than 100 years. Both organizations also have a common mission and commitment to caring for diverse populations when they are at their most vulnerable.

"When Isabella was exploring options for partnerships, we were drawn to MJHS Health System because of our shared missions and our experience of effectively working together," says Hila Richardson, DrPH, chair of the Isabella board of directors. "For years, our residents have benefitted from the compassionate care that MJHS Hospice has provided at Isabella. The already well-established relationship and trust between Isabella and MJHS Health System are two of many reasons why our board knew this would be a mutually beneficial affiliation that will further enhance our ability to serve patients, residents as well as at-risk members of the community."

Alexander S. Balko, president and CEO of MJHS Health System, is now the president and CEO of Isabella; he replaces Mark Kator who retired earlier this year. Balko served on the Isabella board for 22 years before stepping down in 2016. As a result, he has extensive knowledge of the organization and a deep commitment to continuing Isabella's mission.

Loyola Princivil-Barnett will become the new senior vice president of operations and administrator of record, responsible for overseeing all Isabella activities. She is currently the administrator at Menorah Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care, which is also a member of the MJHS Health System.

MJHS is a $1.2 billion organization with more than 3,500 employees. Isabella is a $135 millionorganization with more than 1,850 employees.

About MJHS Health System

One hundred and ten years ago, four courageous women in Brooklyn saw people in desperate need of care and loving kindness. Based on the core values of compassion, dignity and respect, and with the help of charitable support, these determined women provided poor, elderly members of the community with quality health care and a safe place to live. Since 1907, the organization has expanded from one small building among the tenements to one of the largest not-for-profit health systems in the region that provides home care, hospice and palliative care for adults and children, centers for rehabilitation and nursing care and the research-based MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care. It also includes Elderplan, which offers health plans for Medicare and Dual Eligible beneficiaries and its managed long- term care plan, HomeFirst, one of the original MLTC plans in New York. Many MJHS Health System programs and services are aided by grants from MJHS Foundation, which is supported by private and corporate donations. For more information, visit mjhs.org.

About Isabella

Isabella is a not-for-profit organization that has pioneered the care of the elderly since 1875. Located in northern Manhattan, Isabella, now a member of the MJHS Health System, offers a continuum of care to those seeking guidance on eldercare options, as well as those needing senior housing, subacute rehabilitation or long-term care. Isabella's mission is to provide quality care through programs designed to promote health and independence within and beyond its walls. In addition to specialized skilled care offered in its nursing home, Isabella offers many community-based programs. Among them are Isabella House, an Adult Day Health Care program, three NORC programs, a benefits enrollment program and several community-based programs designed to promote education and healthy aging within the community. For more information, visit isabella.org