Rumors have been swirling around that the Richmond University Medical Center is seeking a merger with another hospital system.

RUMC is one of the two main independent hospital systems on Staten Island.

The center provides healthcare to tens of thousands of people a year. The roughly 440-bed facility and Level 1 adult trauma center primarily serves Staten Island’s North Shore, but the hospital needs help itself financially.

NY1 has confirmed the hospital is looking for a partner in an exclusive interview with Dr. John C. Evanko, the new president of RUMC.

“The long-term solution is really to find a partner that we could ally with to help support us and give us the resources so that way, we could become more of an integrated healthcare delivery system to provide for our community,” he said.

Evanko said the hospital is operating at a loss and has been for years. RUMC reported its revenue in 2024 as $461 million, but its expenses at $488 million.

“When you’re a standalone, it’s harder to negotiate competitive rates and reimbursement for the services you provide,” he said.

Evanko said recently passed Medicaid cuts make the business landscape harder, but said this year it’s lowering its deficit, but is still looking for a partner.

“We put out [an] RFP to all the major players in the city, but there’s several that are talking to us. But I don’t want to say this one’s closer or that one’s closer because it changes from day to day,” he said.

Evanko said conversations about a merger with a hospital are in progress and started more than a year and a half ago.

“We’re making some changes here so we could be alone and take our time to make sure it’s the right fit,” he said. “But I would hope in the next couple years. We have a long-term partner that we could really ally with.”

Evanko said a merger would mean better and more efficient care for patients.

“I think NYU, Mount Sinai and our current affiliate and Northwell, are all potential contenders that are evaluating these potential merger opportunities with us,” he said. “They’ve all been approached, and they’re all working on this to see if it fits their portfolio of hospitals.”

Private or public hospitals, Evanko said, could make a great partner.

“I think serving the public that we do and the population that we do, you know, health and hospitals would be a perfect fit,” he said. “I think when you become a public hospital, it helps people [who] are either uninsured, underinsured to access those resources for the care that they need. So we improve the health of all Staten Islanders.”

Evanko said the timeline is open because maintaining the deficit is manageable until they find the right partner, so patients should not worry.

“There’s concern, there’s anxiety whenever a hospital or any business entity says we’re going to merge, we’re looking to merge. But I’m not afraid. I think what we are going to do is focus on patient care. And anything we do is just going to make it better for everyone involved,” he said.

RUMC has several partnerships, including clinical and academic affiliations with SUNY Downstate and Mount Sinai.

Evanko said they are looking for a fully integrated financial partner.