Newly constructed Fulton Health Center opens

FULTON — Northern Oswego County Health Services, Inc. (NOCHSI) today announced the opening of the “newly constructed” Fulton Health Center at 510 Fourth St.  in Fulton.

The event “represents the result of nearly four years of collaborative effort of the leadership of NOCHSI, Oswego Hospital (OH), and Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) to stabilize the Oswego County primary health-care system by consolidating the several practices of OH and OCO under the operations of NOCHSI,” Daniel Dey, CEO of NOCHSI, said in a news release.

Besides the Fulton Health Center, NOCHSI also added the Oswego Health Center, which had previously operated under Oswego Hospital, the organization said in a news release.

In addition, NOCHSI also operates of the Pulaski Health Center and school-based health centers in the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown, Pulaski, and Sandy Creek school districts.

In his remarks, Dey outlined the funding support of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), New York State Health Foundation (NYSHF), and federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which supported the collaboration.

State funding through the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers (HEAL-NY) allowed facility renovations and information-technology upgrades among the consolidated practices, NOCHSI said.

The NYSHF funding supported the planning and contracting costs, and the financial support from HRSA provided ongoing funding for operations.

The consolidation will improve access to high-quality, primary care services in a more cost-effective manner, Dr. Patrick Carguello, NOCHSI’s chief-medical officer, contends.

“Since the consolidation on January 1, NOCHSI has recruited nine additional primary-care physicians and nurse practitioners to serve area families,” Dr. Carguello said in the release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com