Sen. Little secures $300,000 for Tupper Lake Health Center

October 25th, 2006
     SARANAC LAKE -  State Senator Elizabeth "Betty" Little formally presented a grant today in the amount of $300,000 to Adirondack Medical Center for renovation work at the Tupper Lake Health Center.
     The renovation work is part of a broader project to create a new partnership between AMC and Uihlein Mercy Center in Lake Placid and Mercy Healthcare Center in Tupper Lake. With the $1.8 million purchase of the two facilities expected to be finalized in January, 2007, AMC will embark on an ambitious expansion and renovation project. The capital improvement portion of the project is expected to cost approximately $5.3 million.
     Sen. Little, who is an ardent supporter of health care issues throughout her large legislative district, secured the $300,000 as part of the 2006-07 New York State budget. In the past, Sen. Little has secured $30,000 for the Renal-Dialysis Unit at AMC in 2004-05, and $50,000 for the Emergency Department in 2003-04.
     "Betty Little is a dedicated public servant," said Chandler Ralph, CEO/President of AMC, "We are extremely fortunate to have someone of her caliber representing the needs of the North Country in Albany."
     Among the renovations for Mercy are plans to increase the health center exam rooms from the current nine to 11 to include two new "urgi-care" rooms. To accommodate the increase in exam rooms, a new entrance for patient admission, registration, and waiting area will be constructed at the health center. The expansion and renovation of the admission area will also result in increased efficiency and improved patient confidentiality when registering at the health center.
     Following the anticipated issuance of building permits in March 2007, and ensuing bidding process, it is expected that project work will begin in mid-May 2007. The construction and renovation project is expected to take about one year to complete.
     The overall project at Mercy will add 7,100-square-feet of new space, and result in the renovation of 23,000-square-feet of space.

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	AMC is accredited by the Joint Commission. Click here to view the Joint Commission Public Notice.
	AMC is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.
	Adirondack Medical Center's Bariatric Program and Dr. Michael Hill have been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.