Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito (D-Rome) recently announced that Governor David Paterson has signed her legislation (Assembly Bill 8173-A) into law.  This important measure will direct the president of the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University to conduct a study to explore the viability and compelling need for branch campuses of the SUNY Upstate Medical University in the Mohawk Valley region as well as the Fort Drum/Watertown region of New York State.

“I am very pleased that my legislation has now become law so that SUNY Upstate Medical University can begin to formally examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the establishment of Branch Campuses for our community as well as the Fort Drum/Watertown Region where we both have a shortage of certain essential health care providers,” Destito explained.  “Recent reports and other related information have identified specialized health care practices where we have very few or no physicians to serve this community as well as the Watertown area.”

Destito noted that she has been partnering with SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse which wants to live up to its regional identification by taking its people, programs and classrooms into the 17-county region it serves.  By acting now, the University can address serious health care and economic uncertainties shared by many communities.  In fact, Academic Health Centers (AHC) have a reputation for exhibiting symptoms of “build it and they will come” syndrome.  Indeed, most other AHC’s in New York State are located in the center of their defined universe, waiting for patients, referrals, students and trauma victims.

SUNY Upstate Medical University requested this measure because it wants to do something different.  It is located in the center of a region which includes some of the best specialists, the finest facilities and access to excellent training.  This 15,000-square-mile region (one third of New York’s land mass) also is home to some of the worst health care disparities – and that situation is getting more critical as the region looks five and 10 years down the line.  Statewide census and workforce numbers point to the problem: not enough physicians and health professionals are choosing small communities in which to set up practice.

The Center for Health Workforce Studies recent report bears this out.  Physician supply lags significantly in rural areas.  While New York’s cities have 340 physicians per 100,000 people, rural areas have just 169 physicians per 100,000 people, and the number is falling.  In the North Country, the physician population has dropped by eight percent over the last five years.  In that same time period, the number of active physicians in the Mohawk Valley declined eight percent Destito further noted.

“The prospect of Branch Campuses for the Mohawk Valley and Fort Drum/Watertown regions is a perfect fit for SUNY Upstate’s Regional Extension model and should be explored in detail,” Destito concluded.  “Such campuses would provide a ready supply of professionals including medical graduates, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.  I will be meeting with all local stakeholders in the very near future to get this study underway.”

Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito (D-Rome) recently announced that Governor David Paterson has signed her legislation (Assembly Bill 8173-A) into law.  This important measure will direct the president of the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University to conduct a study to explore the viability and compelling need for branch campuses of the SUNY Upstate Medical University in the Mohawk Valley region as well as the Fort Drum/Watertown region of New York State.

“I am very pleased that my legislation has now become law so that SUNY Upstate Medical University can begin to formally examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the establishment of Branch Campuses for our community as well as the Fort Drum/Watertown Region where we both have a shortage of certain essential health care providers,” Destito explained.  “Recent reports and other related information have identified specialized health care practices where we have very few or no physicians to serve this community as well as the Watertown area.”

Destito noted that she has been partnering with SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse which wants to live up to its regional identification by taking its people, programs and classrooms into the 17-county region it serves.  By acting now, the University can address serious health care and economic uncertainties shared by many communities.  In fact, Academic Health Centers (AHC) have a reputation for exhibiting symptoms of “build it and they will come” syndrome.  Indeed, most other AHC’s in New York State are located in the center of their defined universe, waiting for patients, referrals, students and trauma victims.

SUNY Upstate Medical University requested this measure because it wants to do something different.  It is located in the center of a region which includes some of the best specialists, the finest facilities and access to excellent training.  This 15,000-square-mile region (one third of New York’s land mass) also is home to some of the worst health care disparities – and that situation is getting more critical as the region looks five and 10 years down the line.  Statewide census and workforce numbers point to the problem: not enough physicians and health professionals are choosing small communities in which to set up practice.

The Center for Health Workforce Studies recent report bears this out.  Physician supply lags significantly in rural areas.  While New York’s cities have 340 physicians per 100,000 people, rural areas have just 169 physicians per 100,000 people, and the number is falling.  In the North Country, the physician population has dropped by eight percent over the last five years.  In that same time period, the number of active physicians in the Mohawk Valley declined eight percent Destito further noted.

“The prospect of Branch Campuses for the Mohawk Valley and Fort Drum/Watertown regions is a perfect fit for SUNY Upstate’s Regional Extension model and should be explored in detail,” Destito concluded.  “Such campuses would provide a ready supply of professionals including medical graduates, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.  I will be meeting with all local stakeholders in the very near future to get this study underway.”

Assemblywoman RoAnn M. Destito (D-Rome) recently announced that Governor David Paterson has signed her legislation (Assembly Bill 8173-A) into law.  This important measure will direct the president of the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University to conduct a study to explore the viability and compelling need for branch campuses of the SUNY Upstate Medical University in the Mohawk Valley region as well as the Fort Drum/Watertown region of New York State.

“I am very pleased that my legislation has now become law so that SUNY Upstate Medical University can begin to formally examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the establishment of Branch Campuses for our community as well as the Fort Drum/Watertown Region where we both have a shortage of certain essential health care providers,” Destito explained.  “Recent reports and other related information have identified specialized health care practices where we have very few or no physicians to serve this community as well as the Watertown area.”

Destito noted that she has been partnering with SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse which wants to live up to its regional identification by taking its people, programs and classrooms into the 17-county region it serves.  By acting now, the University can address serious health care and economic uncertainties shared by many communities.  In fact, Academic Health Centers (AHC) have a reputation for exhibiting symptoms of “build it and they will come” syndrome.  Indeed, most other AHC’s in New York State are located in the center of their defined universe, waiting for patients, referrals, students and trauma victims.

SUNY Upstate Medical University requested this measure because it wants to do something different.  It is located in the center of a region which includes some of the best specialists, the finest facilities and access to excellent training.  This 15,000-square-mile region (one third of New York’s land mass) also is home to some of the worst health care disparities – and that situation is getting more critical as the region looks five and 10 years down the line.  Statewide census and workforce numbers point to the problem: not enough physicians and health professionals are choosing small communities in which to set up practice.

The Center for Health Workforce Studies recent report bears this out.  Physician supply lags significantly in rural areas.  While New York’s cities have 340 physicians per 100,000 people, rural areas have just 169 physicians per 100,000 people, and the number is falling.  In the North Country, the physician population has dropped by eight percent over the last five years.  In that same time period, the number of active physicians in the Mohawk Valley declined eight percent Destito further noted.

“The prospect of Branch Campuses for the Mohawk Valley and Fort Drum/Watertown regions is a perfect fit for SUNY Upstate’s Regional Extension model and should be explored in detail,” Destito concluded.  “Such campuses would provide a ready supply of professionals including medical graduates, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.  I will be meeting with all local stakeholders in the very near future to get this study underway.”