CANTON -- St. Lawrence Health System’s $23-million Medical Campus is now taking patients and more services will be offered in coming weeks as staff continues to move in.

“This is the culmination of a long planning process with the goal to improve access for some of the highest medical needs in our County,” said David B. Acker, FACHE, President and CEO of St. Lawrence Health System. “Our Board of Directors, our medical staff, and employees across multiple functions have worked tirelessly to bring this new medical campus into being,” he said.

“The Medical Campus’ central location makes specialist such as rheumatology, endocrinology, and allergy available to more people living and working in St. Lawrence County,” said Mr. Acker. “These specialists are the only ones in their fields to practice within eighty miles of Canton,” he noted. “It also places the largest concentration of orthopedics and sports medicine specialists available in St. Lawrence County within reach of the majority of the population,” he said.

The medical campus consists of two floors: patients entering at the street level can register to see orthopedic and sports medicine providers at the main registration desk on that floor.

Patients with appointments for the Hand Therapy space can proceed directly to that space, situated just beyond the registration area toward the “Village of Canton” side of the building. Patients with appointments for specialists in allergy and immunology, endocrinology, otolaryngology—head and neck surgery (ear, nose, and throat), or rheumatology may proceed to the top floor via an elevator or stairway conveniently located adjacent to the main lobby entrance.

The campus features separate secure staff and shipping/delivery entrances and ample parking, with parking for those with disabilities located adjacent to the main entrance.

Providers moving to their new spaces will begin seeing patients on various start-dates as noted below:

Mohammed Zaman, MD, Allergy and Immunology, December 28, 2016 (for patients receiving shots only; patients should call ahead for other appointments)

Maurice Bettez, MD, Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (ENT): January 3, 2017;

Michael G. Chater, MD, FRCS, Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (ENT): January 3, 2017;

Eyal Kedar, MD; Elizabeth Becht, NP, Rheumatology: January 3, 2017;

Paul Tejera, MD, Endocrinology: January 3, 2017

Jeffrey Haasbeek, MD, Orthopedic Hand Surgery and Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery: January 9, 2017;

Luc Perrier, MD, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine: January 9, 2017;

Thomas Kneifel; MD, Kristin Miller, NP; Richard Finch, PA, Orthopedics: January 16, 2017;

Robert Cummings, MD, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine: January 16, 2017;

John B. Savage, MD, Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine: January 16, 2017;

A certified hand therapist will begin seeing patients in the spacious Hand Therapy suite on the main lobby floor on January 9, 2017. The building includes imaging and laboratory suites so providers of the building’s practices can order onsite diagnostics. Provider areas are organized in work “pods” to maximize collaborative consultations, according to SLHS officials. Spacious lobby seating areas with floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light for reception, registration, and those accompanying patients to their appointments. Provider offices ring the rear portions of the building, looking out on groves of birch and fields cleared for farming.

Those interested in making an appointment to see any of the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Specialists listed above may call (315) 261-5850. Those wishing to make an appointment for endocrinology, rheumatology, or otolaryngology may call (315) 261-5810. Dr. Zaman’s telephone number remains the same: (315) 714-3170. For Hand Therapy, patients should call (315) 261-5497. Interested individuals may also visit www.cphospital.org. For more information about St. Lawrence Health System, interested individuals may visit www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org.