Jones Memorial will be working with Cuba Memorial Hospital as a partner and is not replacing any of the latter’s services when the Wellsville facility opens its new $4.1 million Western Allegany County medical office building next summer.
James Helms, president of Jones Memorial, and Carrie Walker, its vice president of professional services, described plans for the new venture at a town hall meeting last night at the Cuba Opera House, according to a report from the hospital.
Groundbreaking for the facility is scheduled for October on a nearly two-acre site on Center Street, purchased from the fire department, with an expected opening by July 2027.
The building, which will have six exam and one treatment room, will house a medical doctor, an advanced practice provider, and six medical support staff, the officials told the gathering.
Up to 40 patients are expected to be seen each day it is open, with an initial focus on family medicine and obstetrics, they said, noting the facility will have space on the site for future growth.
Helms said the facility is “about access to primary care for our community,” adding that “access to primary care is critical to the overall well-being of our patients, family and neighbors. Primary care must be available where people live.”
With William Robinson, chief executive officer in the audience, it was noted that both hospitals are part of the EPIC electronic medical records system and all records will transfer between the two facilities for better patient care and experience.
Patients will be able to have their lab work and imaging done at a location convenient to them, they said, without being required to travel to Wellsville for lab work.
Community member questions involving the Emergency Department at Jones in Wellsville and its capacity, brought information that the hospital has added a second CT scanner, being the only facility in the region to have that number, which has improved workflow and capacity within the ED.
There also are plans to expand the emergency room area within the next two years, it was revealed.
Helms, in addressing another concern, said that Jones works strategically with other affiliate partners to bring specialists which are most in need to the region to reduce driving times for patients, saying the hospital is “committed to continuously reviewing needs for additional specialties as we continue to grow and our patients’ needs change and evolve.”
He thanked community members, along with specific individuals, for their help in bringing the project to life, including Wayne Butts of the Cuba Fire Department and Town Supervisor Lee James.
State Assemblyman Joe Sempolinski, who also was in attendance, said the project is a very positive advancement for the community and will aid in addressing healthcare deserts in the region.