Glens Falls Hospital and Albany Med have approved a definitive agreement for Glens Falls Hospital to become an affiliate of Albany Med.
The agreement was approved in September by both boards following a nearly year-long due diligence process undertaken by both organizations. Both will now begin working through the necessary regulatory approvals needed to finalize the affiliation, which is expected to be complete in 2020, officials said.
It’s not official yet. The agreement still needs state and federal approval. That will take about a year, said Albany Medical Center spokesman Jeffrey Gordon.
“Glens Falls Hospital is evolving to ensure we are strong not just today, but for generations to come, and we are excited to have reached another significant milestone toward becoming an affiliate of Albany Med,” said Dianne Shugrue, Glens Falls Hospital president and CEO. “Albany Med has long been recognized as a premier healthcare provider, and we look forward to joining their organization once the affiliation is finalized.”
“Over many years, Albany Med has been working to build a health care system that provides our region access to the highest quality of care possible, and to ensure that residents throughout Northeastern New York can receive the type of care typically available only in major metropolitan centers,” said Dr. Steven Frisch, Albany Med senior executive vice president.

ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) has partnered with a local bank, Glens Falls National Bank and Trust Co. to fund the High Peaks Information Center (HPIC) volunteer host program.
Located at the trailhead for many of the Adirondack high peaks, the HPIC is a major thoroughfare for hikers to get on the trail and begin their trek.
Abutting New York’s busiest trailhead, the HPIC serves as a gateway to the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness. In 2017, from the beginning of July through the end of August, there were 27, 251 registered hikers at the Heart Lake Property trailheads, officials said.
The Eastern High Peaks is New York state’s largest wilderness area and is home to the 46 high peaks. One can hike in a landscape that varies from a northern hardwood forest to a spruce-fir zone to arctic tundra. The area is also home to numerous lakes and streams found throughout major New York state watersheds.
According to ADK, over the last few years visitor numbers have been on an upward trend, complicating the integrity of the wilderness experience and the ability to protect natural resources.