Hospital breaks ground on $6.45M project

Hospital breaks ground on $6.45M project

MONTOUR FALLS—Schuyler Hospital officially broke ground on the $6.45 million renovation project, Thursday, April 25.
The event was attended by Schuyler Hospital and Cayuga Medical Center personnel, members of the community, and state and federal representatives. Fred Tanneberger, Schuyler Hospital board chairperson, explained the funds for the project came from a New York State Department of Health (DOH) Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law grant. Of the total, $1.5 million will go to new equipment.
“We were in dire need of new equipment for the hospital,” said Tanneberger.
The project also includes renovating the main entrance, waiting rooms and surgical suite. Tanneberger said the entrance will come out nearly 30 feet more than it already does. He added it will be “bright” and “welcoming.”
The two operating rooms of the surgical suite will completely be renovated. Tanneberger explained the area will be gutted and a brand new one built. Other rooms to be renovated include the consultation room, central registration, administration suite, and the meditation room/chapel. He added they will also build a gift shop.
There will be a new corridor connecting the main entrance to the hospital rooms. Tanneberger explained this will make access more direct. He added work is expected to be complete by the end of the year. While construction is underway, visitors and patients are using the Emergency Entrance to get into the hospital.
Tanneberger added this project is part of a master plan for the hospital. He explained Schuyler Hospital will announce even more plans in the coming months.
Andy Manzer, hospital president, added the renovation is a reinvestment in the facility. He said, “we are here for the long term.” Manzer also spoke about the partnership between Schuyler Hospital and Cayuga Medical Center, which started last year. He said having Cayuga staff at Schuyler “took orthopedics to a whole new level.” Manzer said the partnership was followed by several others in the past year.
“We’re doing things different than in other parts of the country,” said Manzer.
Assemblymen Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning), Sen. Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats), and representatives from Congressman Tom Reed’s (R-Corning) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) offices were also present and spoke. Palmesano and O’Mara thanked the hospital for hiring local contractors and architects to do the work.