Hospital completes capital project

MONTOUR FALLS-Schuyler Hospital and Cayuga Health (CH) officials held a virtual ribbon-cutting Monday, Feb. 1, announcing the opening of the new Convenient Care and Primary Care center at Schuyler Hospital. This is the final component of the Phase II Transformation capital improvement project, where nearly $11 million has been invested into the hospital. Fast web check-in is also now available for Convenient Care, and all COVID-19 safety protocols are being implemented for patient safety.
Phase II included the complete renovation of the former medical-surgical unit into a 9,185 square foot center - a 58 percent expansion - that is telehealth enabled and will offer improved care coordination. The new space increases patient capacity so the center can see an additional 50-60 patients per day. As part of this renovation, the hospital now has the capacity to add additional providers in the future. The Primary Care Center was previously located above the hospital. Dr. Spaulding has also moved his practice from his original Main Street location.
The new convenient care, located at Schuyler Hospital, will offer non-emergency services, including minor injuries, sports/camp/work physicals and mild illness treatment and web check-ins and same-day access for lab and most imaging services. Appointments are not required. The exam rooms allow for regular and telehealth appointments, or for online family conferences. Convenient care will be open Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
"We are very pleased to announce the finalization of an extensive expansion and transformation capital project at Schuyler Hospital," stated Dr. Martin Stallone, President and CEO of Cayuga Health. "I could not be prouder of the team's successful management of this project throughout an extremely difficult and challenging year."
Schuyler Hospital opened Phase I of the transformation capital project, a 15,000 square foot state-of-the-art medical-surgical inpatient unit on April 21. The full project was made possible by a $10.3 million New York State Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program (SHCFTP) Grant that was awarded in July of 2017.
"Having primary care and specialty care coexisting in our main building will provide more convenience and better care to our patients," said Rebecca Gould, President and Chief Financial Officer for Schuyler Hospital. "When patients see their physicians and get an order for blood work or X-rays, they only have to walk a few steps to get the necessary procedures done that day in the same building."
The new center will take all necessary precautions to help slow the spread of COVID-19 with an on-site call number and/or fast website check in, closed waiting room, and signage to direct patients to wait in their car until called. Upon entry at the screening desk, temperatures will be taken.
"Having Convenient Care and Primary Care in our main building, and under one roof, will be a great convenience to our patients," added Matthew Rouff, Executive Director, Outpatient and Support Services at Schuyler Hospital and the project's manager. "When patients see their physicians and get an order for bloodwork or X-rays, they only have to walk a few steps to get the tests done that day in the same building."
In anticipation of the expansion, work began in November 2018 on new and expanded parking lots to support the transformation project.
Schuyler Hospital has seen a large growth in specialty health-care services. In 2014, the hospital's two specialists in orthopedics and general surgery had approximately 1,500 patient visits. By the end of 2019, nine specialists were at the hospital for over 4,700 patient visits. The range of on-site specialty care includes oncology, cardiology, gynecology, sleep/pulmonology, orthopedics, general surgery, wound care and ear, nose and throat care.