The Institute for Family Health Opens New Health Center in Kingston, NY
November 16, 2023
Kingston, NY (November 16, 2023) – Community leaders and elected officials gathered on Thursday, November 16th, to celebrate the grand opening of the Pine Street Family Health Center. This brand new state-of-the-art community health center is located at 140 Pine Street in midtown Kingston and is operated by the Institute for Family Health, a federally qualified health center network that serves patients in both the Hudson Valley and New York City. The center welcomes patients of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay.
Pine Street Family Health Center, which opened for patient care on November 13th, offers primary care, mental health care, social services and community wellness programming. The center also offers assistance with insurance enrollment and connection to other resources. As with all Institute sites, patients at the Pine Street Family Health Center benefit from the organization’s top-quality electronic health record, which includes access to a secure online portal where patients can review their medical records, make appointments and securely message their provider. The Pine Street center is one of two Institute locations in Kingston: a long-standing health center on Route 32, the Kingston Family Health Center, continues to serve the community as well.
Dr. Neil Calman, co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Family Health, and other speakers remarked on the important role the Institute’s facilities and programs have had in Kingston and Ulster County. Since 2007, when the Institute for Family Health merged with the Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute, the region has seen both expanded access to care through development of community health programs and increasing the number of family medicine residents trained in Ulster County.
With nearly 100 people in attendance at the November 16th grand opening, Dr. Calman explained how the Pine Street Family Health Center embodies the Institute’s mission to assure high-quality and affordable health care to everyone in the community. “We are immensely grateful to Peter Buffett and the NoVo Foundation and our other supporters for this opportunity to bring our vision to life. The Pine Street Family Health Center is an extension of our commitment to the Kingston and Ulster County communities.”
Dr. Marta Sanchez, the Medical Director of the Pine Street Family Health Center, said “We are here to increase health care access for everyone. We never turn anyone away. Coming from an immigrant family, I grew up not having insurance, and I know how important that is. We have so much potential to improve community health—the possibilities are endless.”
Peter Buffett, Co-President of the NoVo Foundation, which funded the development of the new center, shared, “We feel immense gratitude to everyone here. Once we have a partner like the Institute, with the integrity and history, we have the easy part. It is our gift to be able to take part in something like this.”
New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “This property is built on a foundation of love–we’re doing the right things in our community. This is what I want our kids to know: you deserve to have guaranteed quality health care. To the staff here: thank you for choosing to be in Kingston. This is a beacon of what our communities deserve.”
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger applauded the Institute’s mission of delivering care to all who need it. “This is a huge milestone for our communities in expanding access to care,” she said. “I believe healthcare is a human right and everything else is affected by it. Ulster County is thrilled to partner with the Institute in Ellenville, New Paltz, and Kingston.”
Kingston Mayor Steve Noble also highlighted the impact of accessible, high-quality health care in the community. “When I look out into this room, I see a community of caring. This is what makes Kingston special: we say, how can we come together with our partners to put health care first. We can do health care better, and we’re proving it in Kingston.”
The new facility was designed by Geddis Architects and built by MGI Construction. Funding for the construction was provided by NoVo Foundation and the New York State Department of Health.
The Institute for Family Health is a federally qualified health center network committed to providing comprehensive and affordable health care to all people, regardless of their ability to pay. All are welcome to access care at the Pine Street Family Health Center or any other Institute location. To make an appointment, call 844-434-2778.
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The Institute for Family Health (www.institute.org) is a federally qualified health center network in New York State serving 100,000 patients annually. Services are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.