Area residents who are looking for more information about Strong West in Brockport or have questions regarding the services provided there can attend a community forum set for Tuesday, April 22 at 4:30 p.m. at the Oliver Middle School, 40 Allen St. in Brockport village.
“We wanted to invite the community in for a conversation about the exciting things that are taking place at Strong West,” says Strong West Administrator Bryan O’Donovan, M.P.A., M.S. “Many from senior leadership will be on hand, including Peter Robinson, the Medical Center’s vice president, and Dr. Michael Kamali, chair of Emergency Medicine, who is leading the way transitioning the current Strong West Urgent Care to a higher-level Emergency Department.”
Also in attendance will be staff members who are able to answer questions regarding specialities and services already offered in Brockport such as Imaging, Cardiology and Orthopaedics.
“This is our opportunity to meet more of the community members and answer any questions they may have regarding Strong West,” O’Donovan says. “This conversation is tailored for them.”
O’Donovan notes Strong West officials will have a short presentation, but they are particularly interested in fielding questions from the community.
“After the program, our team members will be available to talk with people one-on-one, in fact, we are hoping to have these individual conversations with community members,” he says.
O’Donovan also provided the Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald with an update on the ambulatory surgical center.
Work is underway on some projects that need to be completed in preparation for renovations to the ambulatory surgical center, as well as upgrades to the patient area for pre- and post-operative use, and three existing operating rooms.
“Same-day surgeries – Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, General Surgery, Urology, and others – will be performed by specialists from UR Medicine and Brockport area physicians,” O’Donovan says. “The target date for opening is mid-summer.”
Strong West is also awaiting approval from the state Department of Health for the free-standing Emergency Department and officials hope to hear back from the state soon.
“The long-awaited approval means a return of higher-level 24-hour emergency care to the Brockport area, which has lacked an emergency department since Lakeside closed its doors last spring,” O’Donovan says. “It was our number-one goal from the very beginning to restore this type of emergency care to the community. We would have loved to make this happen sooner but due to this unique health care model and extensive building code requirements, it has taken longer than anticipated. We are on track to open this summer and have truly appreciated the support from the Village of Brockport and the guidance the state has provided.”
According to O’Donovan, additional renovations at Strong West this year include:
•A new main entrance with significant interior changes throughout the building.
•Updated conference rooms that community members and organizations can use for no fee. Strong West wants them to be a resource for the community.
•Second-floor (former inpatient units) for Oncology and Hematology, Primary Care and other specialty clinics.
O’Donovan reminds area residents that current Strong West services consist of Urgent Care in both Brockport and Spencerport, Imaging, and Labs, all of which welcome walk-ins; Primary Care, Othopaedics, Cardiology, Oncology and Hematology, Neurosurgery, and Urology. Strong West will begin providing Occupational Medicine this summer and Sports Medicine services later this year.
Strong West has received invaluable feedback from the community, O’Donovan says, during meetings he has had with many community service organizations. He says he hopes to connect with more organizations in the Brockport community as well as the surrounding area in the near future.
“Community members should feel free to contact me anytime regarding questions or suggestions about Strong West,” O’Donovan adds. “I am at Strong West five days a week and always available, and can be reached at (585) 758-7542.”
