St. Elizabeth received an approved Certificate of Need from the New York State Department of Health on Friday, Oct. 12.  With that approval, renovations were able to begin the following Wednesday at the Health Care Center. Over the course of the next few months, people will notice that services within the building will be rearranged to accommodate the construction. In the end, Dr. Rentrona and the Health Care Center will be separated into two offices.   

The lab has temporarily been relocated in order to accommodate the work. The staff in the office will be able to assist people in finding the way. In addition to separating the two offices, a New York State Health Department requirement; the Health Care Center will have a new waiting room, front desk, lab, bathrooms and staff area. Although there is not an end construction date, a 12-16 week time frame is anticipated.  

The Medical Center continues to partner with the Town of Webb Health Center Fund, Inc., discussing a number of opportunities that ultimately will insure improved health for the community. Some of the opportunities mentioned in the recent Health Care Fund Annual Report are:

• The Medial Center and the Town of Webb Health Center Fund, will actively participate in the efforts to bring physicians to the community by offering incentives to relocate in the area, as was done when the fund was founded. This could take the form of introductory visits to the communities, tours of locations that are of interest to potential physicians and their families such as schools, churches, restaurants, the arts, clubs, etc. Establish flexible “welcome committees” to meet physiciansí personal interests and introduce them to our communities. Other incentives might include relocation funds, mortgage assistance and more; all of which we have done in the past.

• Health education programs could be provided. In addition to the chronic disease self management programs, the group could also provide workshops on childhood                 obesity, smoking cessation, stress reduction, heart disease and stroke symptom recognition, and general wellness programs.

• Work collaboratively in providing cancer screening, diabetic screening, high blood pressure screening, and screening for other types of diseases for which there are available techniques.

• The group could also look into those things that might help provide support for  emergency services personnel.

As partners, St. Eliz-abeth Medical Center and the Health Center Fund share the common goal of maintaining and improving the quality and access to Health Care in the Town of Webb and surrounding communities.