Kinney Drugs formally opens in-store health clinic

SYRACUSE — Kinney Drugs has formally opened a health clinic inside its store at 104 Lafayette Road in Syracuse, providing customers a variety of health-care services.

The “Healthy You Wellness Center” is a collaboration and partnership between Kinney Drugs, Inc.; Pulmonary Health Physicians, PC; and the Franciscan Companies, an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center of Syracuse.

That’s according to Mike Duteau, vice president of business development and strategic relations at Kinney Drugs, who spoke during a media event showcasing the center this morning.

The partners involved say the health clinic is the “first of its kind” in New York.

The Healthy You Wellness Center is available for patients dealing with a pulmonary (lung) problem or who need follow up after a hospital stay. Patients aren’t required to make appointments and operating hours “may vary during the initial start up,” the news release said.

Access to “convenient and affordable” health care is a “growing” concern from the communities that we serve, Duteau said in his remarks.

“We expect the problem to only worsen as millions or more patients gain medical coverage under the Affordable Care Act without the corresponding increase of physicians available to treat them,” he added.

The center, which specialists from Pulmonary Health Physicians are staffing, will focus on respiratory-disease management with services that include assessment, treatment, and management for chronic conditions such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma.

The center also offers preventive health services such as treatment of cold and cough, flu, allergies, and sinus infections.

Pulmonary Health Physicians operates locations in Syracuse, Liverpool, and Fayetteville, according to its website.

As part of the initiative, Kinney Drugs and Franciscan Companies are stocking respiratory/pulmonary-related medical equipment and supplies in the Lafayette Road location.  The equipment includes nebulizers and CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) equipment.

In addition, Franciscan respiratory therapists and nurses will conduct educational seminars and screenings on site, with a focus on disease prevention and education, according to the news release.

Founded in 1903 and headquartered in Gouverneur in St. Lawrence County, Kinney Drugs, Inc. is an employee-owned company that operates 100 drug stores in Central and Northern New York and Vermont, according to the news release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com

PHOTO CAPTION: Mike Duteau, vice president of business development and strategic relations at Kinney Drugs, addresses the media at an event showcasing Kinney’s new “Healthy You Wellness Center” in Syracuse.

PHOTO BY ERIC REINHARDT