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New co-working space provides modern facility to tenants
NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. — The Network at 600 French is a new professional working space designed to serve as a permanent home for businesses looking for a modern space without the burden of owning and maintaining their own building. The space is the idea of Matt Wilson of MPW Marketing and Bill Matteson of Upstate […]
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NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. — The Network at 600 French is a new professional working space designed to serve as a permanent home for businesses looking for a modern space without the burden of owning and maintaining their own building.
The space is the idea of Matt Wilson of MPW Marketing and Bill Matteson of Upstate Wealth Consulting. The two businesses were sharing space at 8378 Seneca Turnpike but were looking for something a little newer, Wilson says.
“We saw an opportunity to do something a little more impressive,” he says. It’s all about wanting clients to have a top-notch experience, he adds. When Matteson suggested they look for a space big enough to house their businesses and others, Wilson was on board with the idea.
After looking around for about five months, the pair discovered the former Prudential Carrucci Real Estate space at 600 French Road.
“It had been vacant for a while,” Wilson says, but was perfect for what he and Matteson had in mind.
Work involved gutting the 4,500-square-foot space down to the studs and working with ROI Office Interiors in Rome and Uniquely Yours Interior Design to layout and furnish a sleek, modern office space.
The result is the Network at 600 French, which serves as the new headquarters for MPW Marketing and Upstate Wealth Consulting and offers space for lease to other businesses.
Unlike a more traditional co-working space, however, the Network at 600 French isn’t intended to be transient space, Wilson says. Tenants can lease desk space or private office space, and they all share the conference and meeting rooms, kitchen, and huddle rooms, using a software system to reserve the spaces. There’s even a podcast/audio production suite.
The setup is ideal for a small business, say a one- or two-person professional office that needs a professional space, he notes.
There are already several tenants in the space, including Albany–based CSArch, which found the location ideal when it was looking to open a Utica area office. Human resources-consulting firm Empower Business Strategies is also a tenant. The Network at 600 French donated space for the Center for Leadership Excellence to use as well.
The response to the space, which opened in August, has been overwhelmingly positive, Wilson says. CSArch and Empower signed on before the space was even completed. With MPW and Upstate Wealth also renting space, there is only one office and a couple of desks that are still available as of press time.
On top of having a new space he’s excited to welcome clients to, Wilson says it also costs MPW only about one-third of what the space on Seneca Turnpike cost, so it’s been a win-win. Upstate Wealth, the largest tenant in the space, is saving about 40 percent, he estimates.
Beyond the impressive space and the savings, Wilson is also finding he’s enjoying the bustling office after years of remote working during the pandemic.
“What I didn’t expect was the connectivity, the conversations with tenants,” he says. “Not only have we got this great space, we’re building new relationships.”
Work starts on ED renovation at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center
CORTLAND — Guthrie Cortland Medical Center (GCMC) says work is beginning on what it describes as a “long-awaited,” $7.2 million renovation project at its emergency department (ED). Some internal work has been underway in recent weeks, but the public-facing portion of the 18-month project starts on Sept. 23. The project includes multiple phases. The facility’s
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CORTLAND — Guthrie Cortland Medical Center (GCMC) says work is beginning on what it describes as a “long-awaited,” $7.2 million renovation project at its emergency department (ED).
Some internal work has been underway in recent weeks, but the public-facing portion of the 18-month project starts on Sept. 23.
The project includes multiple phases. The facility’s ambulance bay will be redesigned with the addition of a permanent decontamination area and adjoining rooms in the event of an emergency.
The renovation will also focus on patient rooms. The medical center needed more space to accommodate the more than 28,000 visits to the ED each year. The number of rooms will increase from 14 to 23, and all existing and new rooms will now be private, GCMC said.
Another project phase will target the waiting room and triage. The space will be redesigned for “patient comfort and flow,” with the addition of a “Nurse First” triage model, which means every patient will initially be evaluated by a nurse to determine the best course of action, reducing wait times, GCMC notes.
The project will also focus on behavioral-health space, including three new patient rooms, an activity room for parent or counselor meetings, and a separate nurses station.
“This will be especially critical for our pediatric population with mental health concerns,” Wendy Kolodziejczyk, director of critical-care services at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, says in a statement. “This new space, away from the chaos of an emergency department, will offer our behavioral health population a safe, calm space to heal while they wait for long-term placement.”
The phased approach is designed for “minimal impact” to the hospital’s patients and the emergency department will remain open during the entire project. The facility will post signage to “ensure easy navigation” for patients throughout this process and will post updates through traditional and social media.
“The Emergency Department is the face of any hospital,” Jennifeer Yartym, president of Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, says. “We are committed to upgrading and elevating the look and feel of our facility to meet the high level of care being offered by our teams inside.”
Barclay Damon adds partner to health-care controversies team
SYRACUSE — Barclay Damon recently announced that Christina Verone Juliano, partner, has joined the law firm’s health-care controversies team, based in its Syracuse office. She is also part of the firm’s commercial litigation & complex trials and torts & products-liability defense practice areas. With more than 15 years of experience trying cases in both state
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SYRACUSE — Barclay Damon recently announced that Christina Verone Juliano, partner, has joined the law firm’s health-care controversies team, based in its Syracuse office.
She is also part of the firm’s commercial litigation & complex trials and torts & products-liability defense practice areas.
With more than 15 years of experience trying cases in both state and federal courts, Verone Juliano represents a wide range of health-care clients in civil matters including commercial disputes, asbestos and toxic tort litigation, environmental litigation, employment litigation, product liability, personal injury and general-insurance defense, medical malpractice, and management and professional-liability matters.
“Christina’s considerable experience with health-care litigation adds significant depth to the firm’s well-established bench of health-care practice group attorneys,” Chris Greene, Barclay Damon’s health-care practice group leader, said in a statement. “Not only is Christina a highly skilled litigator, she has an undeniable ability to connect with her clients and put them at ease.”
Verone Juliano said she is excited to join what she calls a team of “powerhouse health-care litigators.” She stated, “I’m honored to join their ranks and am looking forward to helping the firm grow and offer more services to health-care clients in Syracuse and beyond. I’m also looking forward to collaborating with my new colleagues in other practice areas throughout the firm’s platform of offices.”
Barclay Damon has nearly 300 attorneys across offices in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, and Syracuse, in New York state, as well as Boston, Massachusetts; New Haven, Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; and Toronto, Canada.
VIEWPOINT: Strategies to help N.Y employers improve employees’ mental health
A recent survey [from the American psychological Association] revealed that 90 percent of Americans believe the U.S. is in the midst of a mental-health crisis, and one-third of Americans reported they found it difficult to access help. In New York state, 15.4 percent adults experience frequent mental distress, according to the 2023 America’s Health Rankings
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A recent survey [from the American psychological Association] revealed that 90 percent of Americans believe the U.S. is in the midst of a mental-health crisis, and one-third of Americans reported they found it difficult to access help.
In New York state, 15.4 percent adults experience frequent mental distress, according to the 2023 America’s Health Rankings report. Notably, low-acuity conditions, like mild and moderate stress or anxiety, account for a significant portion of behavioral-health claims.
Whether low- or high-acuity, unaddressed mental-health conditions can create long-term and near-term impacts in the workforce, including detrimental effects on employee motivation, according to Psychology Today. As behavioral-health needs continue to increase, many are looking to their employers for support — and employers are seeking to reduce the prevalence of mental-health concerns among employees, to help nurture a healthier workplace culture.
During September’s National Suicide Prevention Month, it is an opportune time for employers and benefits managers to evaluate ways to better meet the behavioral-health needs of their workforces. Here are four strategies to consider.
Support a full continuum of care needs. Mental and physical health are interconnected; having poor mental health can negatively impact physical health, and vice versa. Focusing too heavily on one side of the spectrum does not address the full picture of employee wellbeing, and a “one size fits all” approach to offerings can be harmful to employees. Integrate both physical and behavioral-health benefits across a full spectrum of care needs to ensure your benefits strategy encompasses a holistic, whole-person approach to health care.
Select a network that meets members where they are. There are still barriers to accessing care — in fact, nearly half of Americans live in areas with mental-health workforce shortages, according to the World Health Organization. Although efforts are underway at the state and national levels to expand the number of mental-health care providers, increasing the number of providers within a network is not currently enough. Virtual health options and digital tools help employers address these gaps by allowing members to access care when and where they want.
Some health plans, such as UnitedHealthcare, offer virtual programs aimed specifically at increasing access to care and reducing cost barriers. For example, virtual behavioral coaching provides individualized coaching and mental-health support for adults experiencing symptoms of mild depression, stress, and anxiety through digital modules and one-on-one video or telephonic conferencing and messaging with trained, dedicated coaches.
Offer a guided experience to help employees navigate care options. Ensuring employees feel connected and supported while navigating the health system is as important as crafting a benefits strategy that encompasses the right balance of offerings. A robust digital experience allowing employees to navigate care with a single sign-on to search for providers, pharmacies, costs and more enhances the member journey and presents more opportunities for personalization. Also, some health plans and employers offer advocacy programs to connect consumers to advanced care and resources, and predictive tools that help segment and identify high-risk members and make suggestions for care.
Reduce the stigma. While discussing mental health has become more accepted in recent years, some employees may not feel comfortable speaking about it with their employer. Therefore, explore different avenues of internal communications, such as targeted campaigns, to highlight available resources and services, without requiring individuals to share information beyond their comfort zone.
Mental or behavioral-health conditions can have a large impact on a company’s workforce and on individual employees. By designing programs with employees’ whole-person health needs in mind, employers can help nurture a healthier workplace culture, reduce workplace stigma, and improve people’s lives and productivity.
Dr. Greg Carnevale is chief medical officer at UnitedHealthcare.
Rome Health adds practitioner to primary care practice
ROME — Rome Health has recently added family practitioner Michael Parslow, D.O., to its primary care practice, located in the medical center on the main campus of Rome Health. Dr. Parslow is the first of four new primary care providers who will be joining the practice over the next four months, the health system said
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ROME — Rome Health has recently added family practitioner Michael Parslow, D.O., to its primary care practice, located in the medical center on the main campus of Rome Health.
Dr. Parslow is the first of four new primary care providers who will be joining the practice over the next four months, the health system said in a news release.
Parslow has been caring for families since 2017. He grew up in Wells, which is located in the Adirondacks. After graduating from Utica University with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, he earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2014. Parslow completed his family-practice residency at St. Elizabeth’s Family Medicine Residency in Utica.
Dr. Parslow said he was attracted to practice in Rome because of the hospital’s transformation and its focus on accessibility. “I heard about the big changes that were happening here at Rome Health and how the hospital has made itself more available to the community,” he said in the release.
He continued, “I love working in family medicine. One moment I am providing care to someone in their late seventies, early eighties, then my next patient is a 2-year-old child. I enjoy being able to provide care to everyone who is in need of it.”
Dr. Parslow is accepting new patients.
Oswego Health adds robotically assisted surgical system
OSWEGO — Oswego Health says it recently purchased the da Vinci Xi surgical system for use in its surgery center. Dr. Kenneth Cooper — a robotically trained bariatric surgeon with the Center for Weight Loss & Surgery — was the first to use the da Vinci Xi system at Oswego Health’s surgery center in early
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OSWEGO — Oswego Health says it recently purchased the da Vinci Xi surgical system for use in its surgery center.
Dr. Kenneth Cooper — a robotically trained bariatric surgeon with the Center for Weight Loss & Surgery — was the first to use the da Vinci Xi system at Oswego Health’s surgery center in early July, the health system announced.
“This additional surgical option will improve clinical outcomes and has significant advantages to our patients,” Cooper said in the announcement. “I’m thrilled that Oswego Health has made this investment as we strive to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”
Its creator designed the da Vinci Xi system to further advance the technology used in minimally invasive surgery. A surgeon can use the system across a spectrum of minimally invasive surgical procedures. It has also been optimized for multi-quadrant surgeries performed at Oswego Health in the areas of bariatric, general surgery, and urology, the health system noted.
The da Vinci Xi system provides the precision and visibility needed to take on more complex procedures via remotely operated surgical tools that are inserted through small incisions in the patient. Benefits of robotic surgery include shorter post-surgery hospital stays, faster recovery times, lower probability of complications, and less need for opioid painkillers.
“At Oswego Health, we care about making investments in patient care. The da Vinci System is state-of-the-art technology that will extend our surgeons’ capabilities in a way that will be safer, less invasive, and more efficient,” Michael Backus, president & CEO of Oswego Health, said in the health system’s announcement. “I expect that our patients will notice the results and this will be another step for Oswego Health to demonstrate the quality of healthcare offered in our hospital. Expanding into robotic surgery at Oswego Health allows us to continue our commitment to be the very best for our patients.”
Cayuga Health appoints chief nursing officer
ITHACA — Cayuga Health announced it has appointed Debra Morton as its chief nursing officer, effective Sept. 30, after a national search. In this role, Morton is responsible for the strategic leadership and vision for nursing and patient services as well as ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, the health system
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ITHACA — Cayuga Health announced it has appointed Debra Morton as its chief nursing officer, effective Sept. 30, after a national search.
In this role, Morton is responsible for the strategic leadership and vision for nursing and patient services as well as ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, the health system said.
Morton joins Cayuga Health with more than 30 years of acute-care experience in hospital operations, strategic planning, operational and financial improvement, staff empowerment, labor relations, and quality management.
She previously served as VP of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Lifebridge Health Siani Hospital, a 483-bed teaching hospital and level-two trauma center in Baltimore, Maryland. Morton also held leadership roles at Kaiser Permanente and Dignity Health in California.
“I am pleased to join Cayuga Health to shape the future of nursing practice,” Morton said in a Cayuga Health news release. “I was impressed by Cayuga Health nurses’ dedication to providing excellent care in a community setting and am confident that together, we will achieve new levels of nursing innovation and achievement typically only realized in larger more urban settings. I am excited to collaborate with other members of the executive team and health-care providers to optimize patient-care delivery, improve interdisciplinary communication, and enhance patient satisfaction.”
Morton trained at Geisinger School of Nursing in Danville, Pennsylvania; Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and earned a doctorate of nursing practice from the University of San Francisco.
“Debra’s proven expertise in patient experiences will bring a next-level focus on efforts already underway at Cayuga Health,” President/CEO Dr. Martin Stallone said in the release. “As our organization evolves into an integrated delivery network, the complexity of operations has also advanced. Debra’s experience in clinical operations will be invaluable to the Cayuga Health team as we continue to navigate the challenging healthcare landscape. Her strategic vision and inspirational leadership style will provide direction and support to our nurses and patient-care staff during a critical time of change.”
Raymond, sister company repurpose Kirkwood building
$15.6 million project to create up to 45 new jobs KIRKWOOD — The Raymond Corporation and Toyota Material Handling, Inc. are expanding into Broome County. Raymond, a lift-truck manufacturer in Chenango County, is repurposing an existing structure located on Corporate Drive in the town of Kirkwood. The effort
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KIRKWOOD — The Raymond Corporation and Toyota Material Handling, Inc. are expanding into Broome County.
Raymond, a lift-truck manufacturer in Chenango County, is repurposing an existing structure located on Corporate Drive in the town of Kirkwood. The effort established what the company calls the Energy Solutions Manufacturing Center of Excellence, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sept. 9.
The total project cost is a little more than $15.6 million. As a result of the expansion, Raymond has committed to creating up to 45 new jobs.
The Raymond Corporation and Toyota Material Handling are two subsidiary companies within Toyota Material Handling North America.
The new facility will enable Raymond and its parent company to develop a “more diverse portfolio of energy solutions” as industry demand for electric products continues to grow.
It will continue to support the firm’s longstanding presence in New York state and its “green” product line via the assembly of advanced-energy products, including lithium-ion battery packs used in Raymond lift trucks.
“We are excited to welcome The Raymond Corporation’s expansion to Broome County and are grateful for their commitment to growing here,” Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said in the state’s announcement. “This new facility will bring valuable jobs, cutting-edge technology, and a significant boost to our local economy. Raymond’s decision to expand in our community shows strong confidence in our future.”
The company has begun the process of renovating, equipping, and operating at this facility and expects to be fully operational sometime in 2025. This announcement builds on the significant work taking place in New York state and the Southern Tier in the energy storage and advanced battery industries, Hochul’s office said.
Empire State Development is assisting the company with the project by providing up to $1 million through the performance-based Excelsior Jobs tax-credit program.
“This grand opening marks a significant milestone in our company’s journey,” Michael Field, president and CEO of the Raymond Corporation said in the state’s announcement. “But more importantly, it represents our commitment to the future by bringing jobs, growth and opportunity to advance the community and the material handling industry, and by offering our customers with superior energy solutions to fit their unique needs.”
Josh Linnemann, VP of engineering at Toyota Material Handling, added that the strategic investment will help power a greener future and solve customers’ evolving problems. “The Energy Solutions Manufacturing Center of Excellence will allow us to create so much value for our customers by developing and producing solutions to meet each customer’s unique needs,” he said.
Founded in 1922, the Raymond Corporation launched in the village of Greene in Chenango County as a foundry. The company’s products evolved to include patents for the design of the first double-faced wooden pallet and hydraulic hand-pallet truck.
In 2017, the company introduced its first lift truck powered by a lithium-ion battery, per the announcement.
Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA), which calls itself “the industry leader in forklift sales,” is composed of two main group companies: Toyota Material Handling, Inc. and The Raymond Corporation. One in three forklifts sold in North America is either a Toyota or Raymond product.
With nearly 2.5 million square feet of manufacturing space, TMHNA is composed of five manufacturing-plant locations: Greene in Chenango County, along with Columbus, Indiana; Muscatine, Iowa; East Chicago, Indiana; and Oakville, Ontario, Canada that produce racking products and more than 1,500 forklifts per week.
With annual revenue topping $4 billion, TMHNA has more than 15,000 employees and more than 300 dealer locations to support Toyota and Raymond customers throughout North America.
N.Y. manufacturing activity expands again in September
Led by new orders, shipments Respondents reporting increases in new orders and shipments helped the general business-conditions index of the monthly Empire State Manufacturing Survey rise 16 points to 11.5 in September. That’s according to the Sept. 16 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It was the first time manufacturing activity had
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Respondents reporting increases in new orders and shipments helped the general business-conditions index of the monthly Empire State Manufacturing Survey rise 16 points to 11.5 in September.
That’s according to the Sept. 16 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It was the first time manufacturing activity had expanded in New York state since November of last year.
In the past few months, the general business-conditions index rose nearly 2 points to -4.7 in August after slipping less than 1 point to -6.6 in July. The index is the monthly gauge of New York’s manufacturing sector.
A positive index number indicates expansion or growth in manufacturing activity, while a negative reading on the index shows a decline in the sector.
The survey found “new orders climbed, and shipments grew significantly,” the New York Fed said.
It also found firms grew more optimistic that conditions would improve in the months ahead, though the capital-spending index dipped below zero for the first time since 2020.
The New York Fed distributes the Empire State Manufacturing Survey on the first day of each month to the same pool of about 200 manufacturing executives in New York. On average, about 100 executives return responses.
The new-orders index climbed 17 points to 9.4, a multi-year high, pointing to a “modest” increase in orders, while the shipments index rose 18 points to 17.9, its highest level in about a year and a half, “signaling strong growth” in shipments, the New York Fed said.
Unfilled orders were little changed. The inventories index rose 11 points to 0, indicating that inventories were level after declining for the prior two months.
The delivery-times index rose to -1.1, suggesting that delivery times were little changed, and the supply-availability index came in at -2.1, a sign that supply availability was slightly lower.
The index for number of employees came in at -5.7, pointing to another month of “modest” employment reductions, the New York Fed said. After a steep drop the prior month, the average workweek index recovered to 2.9, signaling a slight increase in hours worked.
Price indexes were little changed: the prices-paid index was 23.2, and the prices-received index remained low at 7.4.
New York manufacturing firms grew more optimistic that conditions would improve in the months ahead. The index for future business activity moved up 8 points to 30.6, with 45 percent of respondents expecting conditions to improve over the next six months.
However, the capital-spending index fell 11 points to -2.1, dipping below zero for the first time since 2020.
ConnextCare plans to open new Oswego office in early 2025
OSWEGO — ConnextCare is targeting the early part of 2025 for operations to begin in its new office in Oswego. The health-care organization held an Aug. 7 groundbreaking ceremony for the new office at 120 E. First St. in Oswego where construction on the building is ongoing. The total project cost is $11.8 million, Karli
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OSWEGO — ConnextCare is targeting the early part of 2025 for operations to begin in its new office in Oswego.
The health-care organization held an Aug. 7 groundbreaking ceremony for the new office at 120 E. First St. in Oswego where construction on the building is ongoing.
The total project cost is
$11.8 million, Karli Byrd, corporate relations manager at ConnextCare, tells CNYBJ in an email.
King + King Architects of Syracuse and Rochester–based LeChase Construction Services, LLC, which has an office in Syracuse, are both involved in the project, ConnextCare said.
ConnextCare’s current Oswego office is located at 10 George Str. on Oswego’s West side. The move to the downtown location will “make the office much more accessible to patients who use public transportation and will be within walking distance to many public housing buildings in the city,” the health-care provider says.
The office at 10 George St. currently offers primary care, mental-health services, and substance-use disorder services. The facility only has 12 exam rooms, which ConnextCare says it is “quickly outgrowing.”
The relocation of the office to downtown Oswego will double the number of exam rooms and allow ConnextCare to offer dental services. Its dental services are currently only offered in its Pulaski and Fulton offices and school-based health centers throughout the county.
The new building’s ground floor will include 18 primary-care exam rooms, as well as provider office spaces. The second floor will contain seven dental-exam rooms along with various workspaces and break rooms for staff.
ConnextCare has health centers in Central Square, Fulton, Mexico, Oswego, Parish, Phoenix, and Pulaski. It also operates nine school-based health centers located in the APW, Mexico, Pulaski, Fulton, Oswego and Sandy Creek school districts.
ConnextCare is the former Northern Oswego County Health Services Inc. (NOCHSI) following a 2018 rebrand.
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