NCPR - Stefanik Tours a "Great Model" for Rural Healthcare in Potsdam
News Article
By: Lauren Rosenthal
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is back in her district this week to talk with constituents. Along the way, Stefanik dropped by a North Country hospital that has made big investments in specialized healthcare. Stefanik said Canton-Potsdam Hospital (CPH) should be an example for others in the region.
It was late in the afternoon by the time Elise Stefanik stepped into a gleaming glass chamber on Canton-Potsdam Hospital's ground floor. There were no patients in sight. But Oncology Director Mark Serago tried to help the congresswoman imagine what it's like to go undergo radiation treatments. "So we get the patients on the table," Serago said as the X-ray machine began to hum. "What you hear right now is what the patient hears. It's not like something dramatic is going to happen when they turn on the accelerator."
The radiation machine is quieter for the patient and better at zeroing in on tumors. Besides buying that equipment six years ago, Serago said Canton-Potsdam Hospital has invested a lot in treating cancer. They built a new clinic. They are also building a $23 million office building on Route 11 outside Canton, and adding more doctors in specialized fields.
Stefanik said CPH's growth is what prompted her to visit. "One of the issues that I hear a lot from my constituents is having to drive hours and hours to get access to their care," Stefanik said. Some patients have to go to Burlington or Syracuse to see a specialist. Stefanik said it's not easy for local hospitals to suddenly beef up their care, given the regulatory hurdles they currently face. Many facilities are just trying to keep the lights on.
But Stefanik said CPH seems to have found a way around those problems. "They are focusing on the highest quality of care, they've invested in different specialties, they've partnered with other organizations, they're a really important employer in the region," Stefanik said. "So this is a great model."
Stefanik said she hopes more hospitals will follow suit.
During her visit to St. Lawrence County, Stefanik is also planning a roundtable with local farmers. Stefanik is also scheduled to award a Purple Heart to a soldier in Massena on Tuesday.
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