The two-story, 60,000 square-foot structure will house a high-end urgent care center staffed with emergency medicine physicians on the first floor, and medical offices for primary care and specialty physicians on the second level.
The outpatient center will offer a cost-effective alternative to emergency room care, with full access to medical imaging and lab services, and the expertise of staff from both Capital Region hospitals. Plans call for a helipad and ambulance bays to allow fast transit for patients needing critical care.
Wednesday’s groundbreaking begins the first phase of Saratoga Medical Park at Malta, a 140-acre center to be constructed in five phases over the next 20 years. In addition to the urgent care facility, the medical park will include a nursing home, assisted living facility, a physical therapy and fitness center and a hospital, as outlined in the draft general environmental impact statement posted on the Malta town website (www.malta-town.org).
Saratoga Hospital, which purchased the site in 2007, and Albany Med announced the joint venture in September 2010.
“At a time when other organizations are focused on competing, Saratoga Hospital and Albany Med have chosen a more innovative and more effective approach – partnering and combining our strengths to better serve our growing community,” said Angelo Calbone, president and CEO, Saratoga Hospital.
Saratoga Medical Park at Malta is located off of Northway Exit 12 across from the Hyatt Place hotel, which is just minutes from Luther Forest Technology Campus and the $4.6 billion GlobalFoundries chip fabrication plant.
Located at the center of Saratoga County, one of the fastest growing regions in the state, the medical
center will meet the needs of the area’s growing population and alleviate emergency room congestion.
The cost of emergency care is expensive for both patients and providers, and studies show that 80 percent of emergency room visits could be treated in a physician’s office. With access to 24-hour medical care at the new Malta center, county residents will be able to receive the treatment they need for, on average, the price of their regular co-pay.
Once complete, the new center will replace Saratoga Hospital’s current urgent care facility located off of Route 9. Emergency physicians from Albany Med joined the staff at that facility in July.
The urgent care center is expected to open in October 2012, and a team of Albany and Saratoga County companies will complete the work: Albany-based HCP Architects designed the facility, Columbia Development is the project developer, and BBL Medical Facilities is the general contractor; Plumb Excel Ground Engineering of Menands will complete the mechanical, electrical and plumbing work; Saratoga Springs-based LAGroup is the civil engineer, Environmental Design Partnership of Clifton Park was involved in designing the roadwork, and Jersen Construction of Waterford is the general contractor for the roadwork.
Healthcare Partners of Saratoga, Ltd., a new not-for-profit formed by Albany Med and Saratoga Hospital, will operate the center.
