Community Memorial Hospital touts 2023 growth, advancements

HAMILTON, N.Y. — Community Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Hamilton recently marked the end of a year that brought new advancements in patient care, as well as new medical staff.

Three new practitioners — Dr. Richelle Takemoto, Dr. Kamaljeet Banga, and physician assistant (PA) Frank Walczak — joined Community Memorial’s growing orthopedic practice during the year.

The expanding team required more space, and a new state-of-the-art practice will open on campus in the former Mid-York Building early this year, CMH said in a news release. The facility will also host visiting specialists including Dr. Nicholas Qandah, who specializes in neurosurgery, as CMH works to recruit other essential providers.

The cardiology department added a nurse practitioner, Sherri Loucks, to join the current staff of Dr. Avneet Singh and Shelby Sharp, nurse practitioner, to meet the increasing demand for cardiac care.

CMH medical staff member Dr. Gregory Ripich expanded services at both the Hamilton and Cazenovia Family Health centers, introducing a new vein-ablation procedure.

In primary care, CMH added Kelly North, a nurse practitioner, and Michele Brennan-Vuocolo, doctor of nursing practice, to the medical staff at Morrisville Family Health Center.

The primary-care team will continue to grow this year with the addition of Dr. Isiah Hammonds in the near future.

CMH opened a new and expanded emergency department in December 2021 and says it saw record patient-visit volumes in 2023.

“In looking back at 2023, every provider and staff member should take immense pride in the strides we have taken as a team,” CMH President/CEO Jeff Coakley said in a news release. “Amidst change and expansion lies remarkable opportunity, and our dedicated medical team has risen to the occasion, diligently working towards our shared mission of delivering top-notch care to every patient. As we embrace the promise of 2024, our leadership team is taking our momentum into the development of even more services to bring care to patients in Hamilton and surrounding communities.”

Community Memorial Hospital, a Crouse Health partner, says it is a critical-access hospital that serves Madison County along with parts of Chenango, Oneida, and Onondaga counties. It provides preventive, primary, behavioral, and acute-care services.