Amsterdam, NY (October 7, 2021) – It’s National Midwifery Week, October 3 – October 9, and St. Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam, NY is celebrating by focusing special attention to the important role certified nurse midwives (CNMs) play for women and families each day at St. Mary’s. This week there will be special giveaways in the clinic for patients, highlights on both providers, and different ways patients can let us know how our CNMs have affected their lives.

“St. Mary’s has made midwifery care available to the community. Women of all ages can benefit from working with us to create a plan for their health that is both based on the latest evidence and individualized. Midwives are here to listen and connect women with resources that improve all around health; we have established a strong referral network in the community including primary care and mental health providers,” said Carwyn Kruler, CNM, certified nurse midwife at St. Mary’s OB/GYN Health Center in Amsterdam. “Midwifery at St. Mary’s is a perfect fit in an environment that is already patient-centered. The providers take the time to get to know each patient, and nurses and staff are supportive of each woman’s needs at every step in their journey. I am part of a deeply caring team!”

Certified nurse midwives are best known for their role in birth, when they monitor the health and safety of mother and baby during labor and delivery. But CNMs also provide lifelong care to women from adolescence to beyond menopause. Midwifery care encompasses a full range of primary health care services for women including family planning, gynecological checkups, prenatal care, disease prevention, and individualized wellness education and counseling.

“Midwife means “with women.” Being a midwife at St Mary’s allows us to provide care to women of all ages. We partner with women to assist them with important health decisions ranging from helping them plan for the birth of a child to assisting a woman through all phases of life. Our midwives provide compassionate and wholistic care of the woman at St. Mary’s Healthcare.,” said Stacy Arminio-Swartz, CNM, certified nurse midwife at St. Mary’s OB/GYN Health Center in Amsterdam.

Midwifery care is offered at the St. Mary’s OB/GYN Health Center in Amsterdam and throughout the birthing process at the Birthing Center located inside St. Mary’s Hospital. “We are very blessed to have two excellent midwives, Carwyn Kruler, CNM, and Stacy Arminio-Swartz, CNM, caring for patients at both locations alongside our amazing team of physicians, nurses and support staff,” stated Trish Sanders, Chief Nursing Officer at St. Mary’s Healthcare. .

Certified nurse midwives are licensed registered nurses who graduated from an accredited college or university, obtained an advanced degree in midwifery, and passed a national certification exam.

For more information about midwifery care, or to schedule an appointment with a midwife provider at the St. Mary’s OB/GYN Health Center, go to smha.org.

About St. Mary’s Healthcare:

St. Mary’s Healthcare features an award-winning acute care hospital, primary and specialty care centers throughout Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga counties, more than 30 behavioral health service

s for persons in Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties, a full continuum of physical rehabilitation services and a 160-bed nursing home. The organization has earned exceptional national rankings for excellence in medicine and has a continuing commitment to provide an exceptional patient experience. For more information about St. Mary’s Healthcare, call (518) 842-1900 or visit us online at www.smha.org. To stay connected to St. Mary’s, follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/smha.org.

Attached Photo Information:
From left to Right – Carwyn Kruler, CNM and Stacy Arminio-Swartz, CNM

(Amsterdam, NY) Stewart’s Shops Corporation/The Dake Family proudly donated $250,000 to the “Preserving our Promise” Campaign for St. Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam, New York.  This capital project expands on the St. Mary’s Rao Outpatient Pavilion, which opened its doors in 2015, to an integration of primary care, behavioral health services, and a retail pharmacy, which is being deemed as a “Medical Village.” This location also provides access to much needed outpatient services all under one roof.  In addition, this campaign includes the expansion and renovation of the inpatient chemical dependency unit, which will be located on the St. Mary’s Healthcare Memorial Campus.  The campaign goal of over $3,000,000 is significant and the benevolent gift from Stewart’s Shops/The Dake Family will help position St. Mary’s to reaching that figure.

“St. Mary’s Healthcare and Stewart’s Shops /The Dake Family have a history of amazing cooperation and generous support for each other’s organizations. The generosity demonstrated by this gift helps to ensure the growth of much needed construction and healthcare services for our community,” stated Scott Bruce, St. Mary’s Healthcare President and CEO.

The Medical Village, which opened to the public on June 14, 2021, serves as “one-stop shopping” for St. Mary’s patients. St. Mary’s has combined three of their primary care practices located in Amsterdam under one roof, along with behavioral health specialists, diabetes education, pastoral care services, and a retail pharmacy.  When a patient visits their primary care provider, they can easily pick up their prescriptions following their visit. If they need to visit the Rao Outpatient Pavilion next door for lab work, medical imaging, urgent care, breast health or cancer medicine, they can use the connecting corridor to access those services.  A healing garden has been planted, as well, for patients and associates to find a peaceful place to meditate and reflect.

“Throughout the pandemic we have been witness to many donations and messages of support from in and around our area. This donation from Stewart’s is another great example of our community coming together to improve health care in our area,” added Bruce.

Susan Dake, President of the Stewart’s Shops Foundation said, “As a long-time supporter of St. Mary’s Healthcare, we are proud to support the Medical Village which provides more convenience and access to necessary medical services for the residents of Montgomery county and beyond.

The money generously donated by Stewart’s Shops/The Dake Family will be used towards the building and renovations of the expansion projects.  The Connecting Corridor to the original Rao Outpatient Pavilion and the Pediatric Wing of the Medical Village will be named after “Stewart’s Shops and the Dake Family.”  In 2018, Stewart’s donated one of their buildings on the corner of Route 147 and Route 67 in the Town of Charlton to St. Mary’s, which has been used as an urgent care center since its opening in 2019. St. Mary’s sincerely appreciates the many years of support and generosity from the Dake family and Stewart’s Shops.

St. Mary’s Healthcare Announces New Chief Financial Officer – Keith Waters

Amsterdam, NY (October 4, 2021) – Keith Waters, CPA, has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Vice President of Finance for St. Mary’s Healthcare. Keith has been a Certified Public Accountant for 15 years and has served in a financial role for nearly 20 years, with expertise in developing and implementing financial policies and procedures. Having joined St. Mary’s in 2009 as the Director of Accounting and Reimbursement, and later promoted to the Senior Director of Finance where he has led that department for the last 6 years.

“We interviewed some very strong external candidates, but none were stronger than our very own Keith Waters. He has done a terrific job over-seeing the financial operations of the organization and I know he has the support of our leaders and associates that have worked with him. I’m confident he will do a great job for us in this critical role,” stated Scott Bruce, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare.

Keith’s long standing leadership roles at St. Mary’s Healthcare provides him with a well versed and prepared set of skills for the unique financial challenges health care continues to face. He is a graduate of the University of Albany (SUNY) where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting with a minor in Economics.

“I’m honored and humbled to serve in the role of CFO at St. Mary’s Healthcare, an organization with a rich history of providing compassionate and exceptional health care to the local community for over a century. It also serves as the community that I call home and the healthcare setting where my children were born,” Waters stated.

Keith enjoys coaching his boys youth sports teams (baseball and football) and service as a board member of the Fonda Fultonville Little League. He lives in Amsterdam with his wife and three boys.

“I look forward to working with a talented group of leaders as we navigate the ever changing and complex world of healthcare to advance our strategic initiatives during this pivotal time in healthcare,” added Keith.

Keith will succeed Rick Henze, who is retiring after nearly 10 years with St. Mary’s Healthcare including 6 years as CFO.

“We are grateful to Rick for his strong leadership and commitment to the Mission of St. Mary’s over years,” Bruce said. “He has played a key role in our Ministry’s growth, our transition from Ascension Health, and with our conversion to a new electronic medical records platform.”

About St. Mary’s Healthcare:

St. Mary’s Healthcare features an award-winning acute care hospital, primary and specialty care centers throughout Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga counties, more than 30 behavioral health services for persons in Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties, a full continuum of physical rehabilitation services and a 160-bed nursing home. The organization has earned exceptional national rankings for excellence in medicine and has a continuing commitment to provide an exceptional patient experience. For more information about St. Mary’s Healthcare, call (518) 842-1900 or visit us online at www.smha.org. To stay connected to St. Mary’s, follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/smha.org.

Date: August 10, 2021

FULTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTIES, NY – The two healthcare entities; Nathan Littauer Hospital & Nursing Home and St. Mary’s Healthcare are joining forces asking community members to get vaccinated. For the health and safety of the region the two healthcare organizations serve, Nathan Littauer and St. Mary’s Healthcare are working closely to educate people in the Fulton and Montgomery County areas. “The Delta variant is here,” says Nathan Littauer Hospital President and CEO Sean Fadale. “Locally, we are urging those to take advantage of the protection offered by the vaccines. The vaccines are safe and effective.” “It is important we educate our communities that these vaccines are incredibly good at what they do,” agreed St. Mary’s Healthcare President and CEO Scott Bruce. “They are a vital component in making COVID a distant memory.”

Positive cases and hospitalizations continue to increase nationwide from the “super-transmissible” Delta variant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the Delta variant is “accounting for as much as 93 percent of all infections,” and “spreads easily like chickenpox.”

“The past 18 months have been a remarkable time,” says William Mayer, MD, Chief Medical Officer of St. Mary’s Healthcare. “The outpouring of support we received during the start of the pandemic was truly humbling. Today, people still ask us: ‘What can we do to help hospitals as we battle COVID?’ The answer is simple. Vaccination is our way out, and we can end this together if we trust in science and protect ourselves and others by getting vaccinated.”

Vaccination is available to everyone in the United States ages 12 years and over. In addition to vaccines being widely available through local county Public Health Departments, New York State has many vaccination sites. Local pharmacies in New York State even offer vaccination appointments. Those who are interested in vaccination have many resources available to them and have the support of their local hospital and health care centers.

“There is no greater priority right now than to ensure the safety of each other, and for those who rely on us for safe care, often when they are most vulnerable. By getting vaccinated against Covid-19 we better protect those who are unable to get vaccinated which includes our children under 12. It’s our duty to inform our community that we have the tool to defeat this virus, and it is readily available to them,” adds William Mayer, MD.

Nathan Littauer and St. Mary’s are working together to share facts, treatments, and trends as the two healthcare organizations battle this new foe. The Delta variant potentially serves as a severe threat to unvaccinated individuals – prompting the two to come together again to ensure as many of their organization’s patients and employees are vaccinated.

Addressing the community, “We have busy days in our future,” Fadale adds. “We know you are relying on us to guide the community through the potential surge ahead. We are up to the task. We have the equipment, the sheer determination, and the talented staff to make it through whatever this pandemic throws at us. But now, we are asking you to help us, and to do your part – please get vaccinated.”

Nathan Littauer and St. Mary’s Healthcare are both committed to patient and employee safety. As such, both organizations believe that all healthcare workers (employees, students, credentialed staff and volunteers), should be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, both agree to implement required vaccination policies effective October 1, 2021, and are taking steps to achieve that goal in their respective institutions.

The two healthcare organizations will continue to promote vaccine information, educational materials, and resources on their website and social media. For those looking to obtain more information about making an informed decision to be vaccinated, community members are encouraged to utilize resources found on Nathan Littauer Hospital and Saint Mary’s websites and social media:

Website: https://www.smha.org
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/smha.org

About St. Mary’s Healthcare:

St. Mary’s Healthcare features an award-winning acute care hospital, primary and specialty care centers throughout Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga counties, more than 30 behavioral health services for persons in Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties, a full continuum of physical rehabilitation services and a 160-bed nursing home. The organization has earned exceptional national rankings for excellence in medicine and has a continuing commitment to provide an exceptional patient experience. For more information about St. Mary’s Healthcare, call (518) 842-1900 or visit us online at www.smha.org.

Contacts:
Richard Hyde
Marketing Director
richard.hyde@nysmha.org
(518) 770-7505

8/10/21

Within the last several weeks, numerous hospitals around the U.S. and all hospitals in the Capital Region have required that their staffs receive the Covid-19 vaccine. St. Mary’s Healthcare has joined with hospitals from the Hudson Valley to the North Country and the Mohawk Valley to ensure all health care workers—from those on the front line to volunteers, students and operations staff—are protected from the virus through vaccination.

To that end, the following hospitals have released a consensus statement:

• Albany Med Health System
– Albany Medical Center Hospital
– Columbia Memorial Health
– Glens Falls Hospital
– Saratoga Hospital
• Ellis Medicine
• Nathan Littauer Hospital
• St. Mary’s Hospital – Amsterdam
• St. Peter’s Health Partners
-St. Peter’s Hospital-Samaritan Hospital
-Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital

Their position is based on proof that the vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing Covid-19 and, in rare breakthrough cases, preventing serious illness. Experts believe the vaccine also keeps the virus from spreading. The more people get vaccinated, the stronger the protection for others who are at increased risk of contracting the virus due to underlying health conditions. The vaccine is also widely available. There are few if any barriers to access with scheduled and pop-up clinics occurring daily in many places.

Click  HERE to view the consensus statement.

Health care workers treat the most vulnerable members of our communities. Requiring a Covid-19 vaccine demonstrates a commitment to protect the safety and health all patients, visitors, coworkers, and our own families. Health care organizations are also among the largest employers in the Capital Region. The health of our colleagues directly correlates to the health of the entire community.

In a news release, Albany Med President and CEO Dennis P. McKenna, M.D., said, “The science tells us that the vaccine works. Our staff has witnessed first-hand the unforgiving impact of the coronavirus on nearly every aspect of our lives and, in too many cases, on life itself.

The number of patients hospitalized for Covid-19 declined as more people became vaccinated. But in late July, the rate began to increase, and the overwhelming majority of patients with Covid-19 had not received the vaccine.

“There is no greater priority right now than to ensure the safety of each other, and for those who rely on us for safe care, often when they are most vulnerable,” says William Mayer, MD, Chief Medical Officer of St. Mary’s Healthcare.” By getting vaccinated against Covid-19 we better protect those who are unable to get vaccinated which includes our children under 12. It’s our duty to inform our community that we have the tool to defeat this virus, and it is readily available to them.”

More than half of the U.S. population has been fully vaccinated as of Aug. 9, 2021. Nearly 60 percent of New Yorkers and more than 60 percent of Capital Region residents have completed the vaccine series.

Capital Region hospitals encourage other health care providers to require the vaccine for the health and safety of their communities. They believe those requirements should be made as soon as possible.

Each of these organizations will develop its own set of limited exemptions and deferrals for consideration.

St. Mary’s Healthcare continues its recognition of nursing excellence by recently honoring three amazing nurses with three different DAISY Awards. Each one recognizes a unique level of nursing distinction. Nominated, by their patients, peers, and the community, DAISY Awards were presented for Extraordinary Nursing, Lifetime Achievement and Nurse Leadership. These special awards recognize the extraordinary compassionate care that St. Mary’s Healthcare Nurses provide our patients and families every day. St Mary’s Healthcare is pleased to announce the winners of the following three DAISY Awards:

Award: DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses
Awardee: Amber Chamberlain

Amber Chamberlain, LPN, from the St. Mary’s OB/GYN Health Center was recently honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. This award honors the super-human work nurses do for patients and families every day wherever they practice, in whatever role they serve, and throughout their careers. They are recognized as outstanding role models in our nursing community.

During the nomination process, here is what one of Amber’s colleagues wrote about her:

“Amber is an extremely compassionate and caring nurse. She has only been a part of our practice for a little while now, but her care for our patients has radiated every single day. We had a new patient come in and Amber roomed her. Amber had been in the room for quite a while, she was taking her time getting to know the patient and listening to everything the patient wanted to share with her. She had other tasks to do, but this patient needed someone to talk to and to listen. Amber took the time to do that. She has had that same attitude with every single patient she sees in the office or talks to on the phone. She is an excellent light to our patients and always goes the extra step to carry out the St. Mary’s Mission and make sure our patients are well taken care of.”

Award: DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award
Awardee: Moira Furman

Moira Furman, RN, nursing supervisor at St. Mary’s Hospital was the recipient of the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was created to recognize those nurses who have devoted

their life’s work to the compassionate care of others. Awardees are nominated for their dedication to nursing through active mentoring, role modeling, advocating for their patients and promoting the positive image of nursing. They serve as a beacon of inspiration to those at all stages of their career and in the various and important roles of nursing.

Among the many nominations submitted for Moira, one of them read:

“When we think of a nurse who is exceptional, Moira Furman is, without a doubt, at the top of the list. Throughout her years of service as a nursing supervisor she has been a rock of support to the staff of St Mary’s Hospital. So many times, the sentence “I’m so glad Moira was there” has been said by the hospital staff because Moira has a way of knowing exactly where she’s needed most and she jumps in without hesitation to help in any situation, and yet she does so, with humility and grace.”

Award: DAISY Nurse Leader
Awardee: Ashley Duross

Ashley Duross, Nurse Manager at The St Mary’s Tesiero Cancer Center was awarded the DAISY Nurse Leader Award! The DAISY Nurse Leader Award honors the extraordinary work that Nursing

Leaders provide to support staff, in the provision of compassionate and skillful care for patients and their families. Nominated by her peers, Ashley was recognized for her selfless work ethic, dedication, and team leadership skills.

One of the nominations for Ashley said the following:

“I have had the pleasure of working with Ashley in her role for a number of years and witnessed many acts of kindness, strength and fortitude. She puts her staff before herself, working the floor when needed and never forgetting a birthday or special occasion. I’ve seen her simply hold a patient’s hand who’s receiving chemo for the first time and is terrified or comforting a parent whose husband’s time is nearing the end. Ashley will contact Insurance companies to fight for drug coverage and keep fighting when they say No, often finding alternatives. Ashley is one of those people who truly makes a difference in someone’s life and it’s an honor to work with her.”

About St. Mary’s Healthcare:

St. Mary’s Healthcare features an award-winning acute care hospital, primary and specialty care centers throughout Fulton, Montgomery, and Saratoga counties, more than 30 behavioral health services for persons in Fulton, Montgomery and Hamilton counties, a full continuum of physical rehabilitation services and a 160-bed nursing home. The organization has earned exceptional national rankings for excellence in medicine and has a continuing commitment to provide an exceptional patient experience. For more information about St. Mary’s Healthcare, call (518) 842-1900 or visit us online at www.smha.org. To stay connected to St. Mary’s, follow us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/smha.org.

About the DAISY Foundation:

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.) The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

St. Mary’s Healthcare – Carondelet Community Funds Distributed

Amsterdam, NY – Twelve local not-for-profit agencies serving our community were once again awarded grant funding as part of St. Mary’s Carondelet Community Fund program of 2021. The funds provide modest assistance to local programs and agencies whose values and mission align with those of St. Mary’s Healthcare.

Funds were allocated to Johnstown Council of Churches Food Pantry-St. John’s Episcopal Church, New Dimensions in Health Care, HFM Prevention Council-Creative Connections Clubhouse, Fort Plain Reformed Church, Comfort Zone-Trinity Lutheran Church, Catholic Charities of Fulton and Mont Counties, Montgomery County Office for Aging, Broadalbin-Perth Lions Foundation, Grow Amsterdam, Centro Civico, Haven of Hope, The ARC Lexington.

Margaret Brodie, St. Mary’s Vice President of Mission, stated,” St. Mary’s Healthcare is pleased to support local community agencies in honor of our founders-the Sisters of St. Jospeh of Carondelet. These partners exemplify our mission to serve the community with compassion and excellence.”

The Carondelet Community Fund Grants were awarded earlier this summer and each agency was recognized for its ongoing service to our community. Unfortunately, out of an abundance of caution due to the pandemic, the yearly reception held at St. Mary’s Healthcare was put on hold which is attended by grant recipients and senior staff of St. Mary’s Healthcare. Instead, a private distribution of the funds was held acknowledging the significance of each organization’s mission and philosophy to St. Mary’s own “Service to the Dear Neighbor”. St. Mary’s was honored to recognize these organizations and their vital presence in our community.

For more information, contact:
Rick Hyde, Director of Marketing and Communications
St. Mary’s Healthcare
427 Guy Park Ave.
Amsterdam, NY 12010
518-770-7505
Richard.hyde@nysmha.org
www.smha.org

St. Mary’s Healthcare has once again partnered with The DAISY Foundation to to offer our nurses a chance to be nominated, by their patients, peers, and the community, for the The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. This special award recognizes the extraordinary compassionate care that St. Mary’s Healthcare Nurses provide our patients and families every day.

Kaileigh Sheffer, RN of the St. Mary’s Mental Health Adult Clinic was recently honored with The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s programs to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

The nomination submitted read, “Kaileigh Sheffer is someone that helps support and assist every aspect of the St. Mary’s Mental Health Adult Clinic (MHAC) as well as a pillar within every client served. Kaileigh’s role at the clinic is to manage the mental health nursing needs of the members of the clinic. Oftentimes this is a large umbrella. Kaileigh goes above and beyond what it means to just be a nurse. Kaileigh has led the initiative to have families of the clinic provide a Christmas celebration that would not be possible without the MHAC. In her spare time, she collected donations and bought presents for multiple families’ children in order to help reduce some of the financial burden the holidays can cause on individuals. During the pandemic, Kaileigh’s support of our clients only grew. She assisted in food deliveries to members of the community that were unable to leave their homes. She also assisted in clients obtaining their prescriptions. The long lasting support Kaileigh has been able to provide to our clients and community is never-ending.”

“Our St. Mary’s nurses always give so much of themselves, often going above and beyond to provide the highest quality and compassionate care to our patients,” stated Patricia Sanders, St. Mary’s Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer. “We are proud that we can recognize these nurses through the DAISY Award program.”

The nomination concluded with, “Kaileigh genuinely cares and roots for the members of the community to reach their dreams and overcome any barriers they face. I cannot think of anyone more deserving of the DAISY award.”

How to nominate a Nurse: Click HERE to fill out the nomination form or click the link below.

About the DAISY Foundation:

The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family.  Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.)  The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Amsterdam, NY (May 24, 2021) – In the latest advancement in access to patient care for the community, St. Mary’s Healthcare is nearing the completion of the Rao Expansion on Route 30 in Amsterdam which broke ground in October of 2020. This is St. Mary’s largest build since the Rao Outpatient Pavilion itself in 2015.  The new expansion adds an additional 17,000 square feet to an already existing 40,000 square foot building.

The facility set to open next month on June 14, houses the new St. Mary’s Amsterdam Family Health Center, which combines the care teams from St. Mary’s Carondelet Health Center, Memorial Health Center and the Memorial Pediatric Health Center in one central location.  The site will provide much easier access for patients to receive the care they need, when they need it, and access to supportive services when it’s most convenient.  

The new health center, encompassing most of the expanded space connected to the existing Rao Outpatient Pavilion, allows for a medical village approach to care not yet seen in the Fulton/Montgomery County Region. The new facility improves access, not only for primary and pediatrics, but also nutrition, behavioral health and follow-up services. By combining these existing services in one location with access to 30 exam rooms, St. Mary’s will easily be able to integrate collaborative care counselors. These counselors work in tandem with our primary care providers, psychiatrists and addiction professionals to deliver comprehensive medical and behavioral health services.

“When patients can easily access the care, they need from a single source (rather than piecemealing it amongst many service providers and locations) the patients care model stays more focused, and they see better health outcomes. That’s the medical village model we’re delivering to the community within this new St. Mary’s Amsterdam Family Health Center,” stated Scott Bruce, St. Mary’s President and CEO.

If a St. Mary’s Amsterdam Family Health Center patient needs follow-up medical imaging, lab, behavioral health or nutrition services, there’s no need to leave the building and in most cases can be seen the same day, with little to no wait, upon referral. Access to St. Mary’s associates and providers being ready to help assist those patients in the new space and the existing Rao Outpatient Pavilion, helps to eliminate barriers to care that most patients experience to some level. This includes anything from transportation concerns with travel to the multiple follow-up appointments, to juggling childcare, to simply the regular hassle of going to multiple locations on different dates and times to get the care a patient needs. St. Mary’s is excited to bring this much needed approach to the Amsterdam and surrounding communities.    

Mike Reynolds, St. Mary’s Director of Business Operations added, “we will truly be able to support our patients better than ever in this new space, our goal is for any patient to leave the building and be able to go straight home with everything needed to continue their path to healthy living in a manner consistent with our mission.”

Another key feature at this site, available later this year, is a retail community pharmacy. This new service again allows St. Mary’s patients greater access to care and services. A patient will be able to visit with their provider and if necessary, walk directly to the retail pharmacy, just feet away, to have their medication waiting for them after checking out.  The building will also feature a drive-thru pharmacy window for easy and convenient access to the St. Mary’s Pharmacy for the entire community

Another exciting feature is the healing garden which will be positioned between the new addition and the existing building. This healing garden “green space” provides a place of refuge and promotes healing in patients, families, and associates. Having a variety of services including urgent care, the Tesiero Cancer Medicine Center, primary and pediatric care, this healing space will be a much-welcomed addition. It’s been proven that a calm, relaxing space including benches, beautiful flowers and landscaping, and sculptures, helps with the stress and recovery process that patients face. That is an important and unique feature added to our newest construction project.   

“We are very excited to begin seeing patients in the new space and having them experience the convenience of a “one stop shop” for their healthcare needs. The collaboration and communication this space will allow for is absolutely something that our patients will see the difference in,” stated Heather Lopez, St. Mary’s Director of Primary Care.