Board members and executives with St. Lawrence Health System, Canton-Potsdam Hospital, The Pike Company, Lavallee Brensinger Architects, Brooks Washburn Architect, PC, Tisdel Associates Consulting Engineers, independent consultant Spencer Thew, PE/LS, Jeffords Steel, and Foley, Buhl, Roberts and Associates sign an I-beam.

CANTON -- Several members of the Board of Directors of the St. Lawrence Health System and Canton-Potsdam Hospital gathered Feb. 24 during an ice storm to sign an I-beam that will be used to top out a new medical office.

David Acker, FACHE, President and CEO of St. Lawrence Health System, said the occasion marked a milestone, not only in the construction progress, but also symbolized “raising the bar” for healthcare in the North Country.

The building is being constructed just east of the Village of Canton on U.S. Highway 11.

“This is a central location for medical specialties in high demand, such as allergy and immunology, endocrinology, and rheumatology,” he said. “Improving access to these specialists will improve the health of county residents as well as the county’s economic health, since many people are still leaving the area for this highly specialized care,” he said.

Construction on the project is on track, according to officials with Pike Construction of The Pike Company, the contractor on the project. Architects for the project—Lavallee Brensinger Architects and Brooks Washburn Architect, PC, of Potsdam—joined representatives from The Pike Company, Tisdel Associates Consulting Engineers, independent consultant Spencer Thew, PE/LS, Jeffords Steel, and Foley, Buhl, Roberts and Associates at the celebration. Framing of the building is expected to take place in the month of March, with interior work proceeding toward occupation of the building pending final approval from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH).

“The goal is to afford the residents of our region access to the most comprehensive health services that we can,” said Mr. Acker. “For many families, traveling two and a half to three hours for services is impossible. We want to keep dollars here in St. Lawrence County: that is what this project is all about,” he added.

In addition to allergy, endocrinology, and rheumatology specialties, otolaryngology—head and neck surgery (ear, nose, and throat) orthopedic hand surgery and orthopedic pediatric surgery, and physical and rehabilitation medicine, among others, are also expected to have offices in the new building. As part of its mission to improve healthcare access in St. Lawrence County, SLHS continues to recruit additional specialists and primary care practitioners who will occupy vacated space in other facilities in Canton and Potsdam.

“Healthcare is changing,” said Mr. Acker. “We have developed concrete plans to meet the challenges of the new healthcare environment and for the good of our residents we’re moving ahead with those plans.”

For more information about St. Lawrence Health System, interested individuals may visit www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org.