Rochester RHIO to Join Upstate N.Y. Healthcare Transformation Organization

In upstate New York, the nonprofit Finger Lakes Performing Provider System (FLPPS) and Common Ground Health-Greater Rochester Regional Health Information Organization (Rochester RHIO) are combining operations. 

FLPPS is a network of clinical and community-based providers working together across the 13-county Finger Lakes region to transform healthcare delivery, advance system transformation and population health, close gaps in care, and support high-risk individuals and populations.


Common Ground Health is the nonprofit health research and planning organization for the Rochester-Finger Lakes region. It brings together community members and leaders from healthcare, education, business, government and other sectors to find common ground on health challenges. The Rochester RHIO is a nonprofit providing health information exchange services to the healthcare community in 14 counties of the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier. (Rochester RHIO and Common Ground combined in 2024.)

The boards of both entities have selected current FLPPS CEO Carol Tegas to serve as CEO of the new combined organization. The completion of the combination and Tegas’ appointment are planned for April 1. Marlene Bessette is retiring as Common Ground Health-Rochester RHIO CEO in March.

The combined organization will build on the strengths and experience of each entity. These include FLPPS’ skills improving healthcare delivery and health outcomes through collaborative partnerships, as well as Rochester RHIO’s expertise providing a secure, quality-ensured health and social determinant information exchange, and Common Ground’s data analysis, convening and community-engagement experience. 

Tegas has more than 35 years of experience in healthcare and nonprofit strategic planning and governance, including previously serving as executive director of Rochester Community IPA, a network of over 3,000 physicians and providers.

As CEO of FLPPS since its inception over a decade ago, Tegas has been responsible for working with clinical and community partners across the Finger Lakes region, implementing large-scale healthcare system transformation initiatives and innovative programs to improve health outcomes. These efforts include the five-year $565 million NYS Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program, the Greater Rochester Health Home Network Medicaid care management program, and most recently, the new $118 million NYS Career Pathways Training Program under their Workforce Investment Organization (WIO).

“FLPPS is a valuable partner to clinicians and communities, working collaboratively to enhance healthcare delivery in our region. By joining forces with Common Ground Health-Rochester RHIO, these nonprofit entities will be stronger together. They will be better aligned and well-positioned to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the partners and communities we serve,” said Kathy Parrinello, FLPPS board co-chair and Strong Memorial Hospital/Highland Hospital president and CEO, in a statement.

“This is an exciting time in healthcare in our region, as FLPPS and Common Ground Health-Rochester RHIO come together to improve our health delivery system,” added Melissa Gardner, Common Ground Health-Rochester RHIO board chair and president and COO of the Rochester Regional Health Clinically Integrated Network, in a statement. “Our two boards of directors could not have made a better choice to lead this organization into the future than Carol Tegas.”