By Tracey Drury – Reporter, Buffalo Business First
Feb 15, 2023
UPMC Chautauqua and Endeavor Health Services were the big winners locally in the state Department of Health’s new round of funding for health care facility transformation projects.
The Health Department today announced $658 million in state funding for 127 projects, including a dozen projects in Western New York valued at more than $51 million.
The Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program, which has awarded nearly $1.68 billion in funding, is designed to improve patient care at facilities providing inpatient, primary care, mental health, substance use disorder and longterm care services.
UPMC Chautauqua, formerly known as WCA Hospital, was tapped to receive $29.8 million to expand and consolidate surgical services. The 277-bed hospital in Jamestown, founded in 1885, merged into the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center system in 2016.
The 33,500-square-foot project includes expanding ambulatory surgery beds from 24 to 40, doubling the size of six operating rooms and relocating two physician practices to new space on the campus.
Endeavor Health, a behavioral health providers based in Erie County, will receive $6.7 million to buy land to build an outpatient mental health and substance use treatment facility on Buffalo’s East Side.
Elizabeth Mauro, CEO, said while the nonprofit is still identifying potential sites, plans to build a 15,000-square-foot facility in the vicinity of its current leased facility at 1131 Broadway to provide recovery oriented services, a clinic, outreach and other services by appointment and walk-in.
“It’ll be a great hub,” she said. “We would like to build this beautiful new building right where we are. There’s lots of empty lots all over.”
Here’s a summary of the other 10 projects funded:
- Community Health Center of Buffalo: $3.1 million to build a new Lackawanna Community Engagement Health Center
- Cuba Memorial Hospital: $2.26 million to replace a generator and renovate skilled nursing units
- Bertrand Chaffee Hospital: $2.13 million to build out the third floor of its health center to add pediatric and orthopedic care services
- Catholic Charities of Buffalo: $1.6 million for capital improvements at its Monsignor Carr Institute and expansion of services
- The Chautauqua Center: $1.25 million to buy three primary care practices in Dunkirk, Gowanda and Forestville
- Kaleida Health: $1.16 million to establish and modernize perinatal telehealth services at Oishei Children’s Hospital and its affiliate birthing hospitals
- Kaleida Health: $1.12 million to increase adult and pediatric ventilator assisted beds and add additional beds for pediatric medically complex care patients
- Genesee Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse: $985,250 to expand its medication assisted treatment program for people with opioid use disorder
- Envision Wellness/Northwest Community Mental Health Center: $142,548 for roof repairs and $95,000 to retire debt
- Beechwood Homes: $129,145 to upgrade health information technology systems