New Medical Center Opens in North Buffalo
Eric Ortner
North Buffalo Rocket
From L to R: Jack Freer, M.D., Medical Director of Hertel Elmwood Internal Medicine, speaks at a ribbon cutting ceremony as John E. Friedlander, President and CEO of Kaleida Health, and Mark C. Shields, M.D. the company's Executive Vice President look on.
The new North Buffalo Medical Park is finally open. On May 4, 2000, Kaleida Health held a grand opening celebration to showcase the new facility. It looks like it will be a successful operation. That is because there were already patients trying to schedule appointments, despite all the commotion caused by a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The new facility consolidates two of Kaleida Health's old offices into one healthcare center. The Hertel Elmwood Internal Medicine Center formerly located at 699 Hertel
Avenue, and the Parkside Spine and Rehab Center, once at 2900 Main Street no longer exist at those locations. Their services can now be utilized in the state of the art facilities at the North Buffalo Medical Park. The new structure is situated just east of Elmwood at 900 Hertel Avenue.
John E. Friedlander, who is President and CEO of Kaleida Health, spoke at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Several other top officials from the healthcare system also made brief comments as an audience of staff and physicians looked on.
Jack Freer, M.D., Medical Director of Hertel Elmwood Medicine, gave a courteous tour of the new outpatient facility. Dr. Freer lead a task force that was largely responsible for deciding what services the medical park should include. This decision was based largely on the needs of the community. Therefore, it was fitting that he should present the strengths of the facility.
He explained that one of the highlights of the new medical park is its Radiology Department. Patients are able to go in on a walk-in basis with a doctor's order. Linda Gawron, radiology manager for the medical park piped in, "We do the basic diagnostic radiology. The film will be developed here and sent to Gates Circle for reading."
Other highlights of the new building include fourteen exam rooms. There is also an impressive physical therapy department. It is filled with equipment to rehabilitate problems involving the neck, back, shoulder, knee, and hip. Foot problems are one more focus for services provided by the North Buffalo Medical Park. Podiatrists will be using the facility for minor surgery on the feet.
Kaleida's relationship with the University of Buffalo's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences will be further implemented at the new facility. Jack Freer commented, "It's also a training site for medical residences, so there's a library." He continued, "In the old days residences were strictly in the hospital with patients with acute illnesses."
A major reason for the change in the way medical schools instruct, stems from a change in health care overall. Dr. Freer commented, "By and large hospitals are changing. People spend shorter stays in hospitals, and only the sicker people actually stay in the hospital. So by and large, people are going to more out patient facilities."
With the importance of outpatient facilities being increased everyday, the significance of a state-of-the-art facility is easily understood. The new structure will benefit the community for years to come.
