35k Square Feet of “Y” Coming to Malta

MALTA — Two organizations that are engaged in health and wellness locally, the Saratoga Regional YMCA and Saratoga Hospital, are coming together to build a 55,000 square foot facility to be located at the Malta Medical Campus off Exit 12 in Malta. The details of the proposed medical office center and new YMCA, as well as the particulars of the collaboration, are still being finalized, but both parties are committed and a Memorandum of Understanding is in place. The Malta planning board will be reviewing the site plan application next week. “Collaborating with the Saratoga Regional YMCA on building a new facility on the Hospital’s Malta Medical Campus is an ideal next phase in developing the property at Exit 12,” said Saratoga Hospital President and CEO Angelo Calbone. “We believe there is a wonderful synergy between the Y and the Hospital’s mission to serve the health and wellness needs of our shared community.” Saratoga Regional YMCA CEO Sean Andrews said they are very excited to launch a partnership with Saratoga Hospital to develop a new YMCA. “The two story building will include 35,000 sq. ft. for the YMCA and community space, and the other 20,000 sq. ft. medical space for the hospital,” said Andrews. “We’re currently working on the details of the agreement, with some ability to work together on construction and shared costs. At the end of the day, we were both looking for ways to create a permanent space in Malta.” The YMCA’s portion will include fitness and recreation space, a child daycare, offices and some shared community space with the hospital. Angelo Calbone said that, from the hospital’s perspective, the mix of programs and services the hospital will be providing at the new Malta facility are still being assessed, with a goal of aligning the concept of “physical medicine” to complement the offerings of the YMCA. “We’re exploring services including physical therapy and occupational therapy,” said Calbone, “as well as community education programs and screenings, but we are still deciding what that final mix will be.” Andrews said that partnerships between healthcare providers and wellness providers are a growing trend, and there is a very successful model between the hospital at the University of Rochester and the YMCA. The project has evolved over the course of the last year, and that YMCA trustee Bill Dake, Stewart’s Shops corporate chairman, has been a champion and guiding force in moving the project ahead. “We’ve been looking for a new location in Malta,” said Andrews, “and this partnership allows both the hospital and the Y to realize joint goals. Having a site location adjacent to health services will allow us to serve new audiences with new programs. We’ve looked at YMCA partnerships around the country, and we’re building on the good work that’s happening in places like Rochester. More broadly, healthcare is certainly moving in the direction of collaboration and disease prevention.” One example he gave is the YMCA’s Live Strong program for cancer survivors. “There has been tremendous success with that in our other branches,” said Andrews. “Another new program is a Y diabetics program which we may offer, and there’s the connection with any physical therapy the hospital is doing and the Y being a bridge to help a person completing therapy get back to full functioning.” According to Calbone, the medical practices to be located on the second floor of the new building are also being assessed to align to the Hospital’s specialty practices currently located at the 6 Medical Park building, on the second floor above Malta Med Emergent Care. “Multiple factors are being weighed in this assessment and that in turn will inform the build-out of our space,” said Calbone. “Our goal is to provide a balance of access to care between the two buildings that will best meet the needs of the greater Malta community. We’re excited by the potential of this collaboration and look forward to sharing more details.” The planning board meeting will be held at the Malta Town Hall on January 17, and Andrews said they hope to break ground in the Spring with anticipated completion near the end of 2017.