Albany — Serving thousands of people with disabilities for over 80 years, the Albany Medical Center and Center for Disability Services receives federal funding to create an integrated healthcare system. .
The $2 million injection announced Thursday by Sen. Charles E. Schumer is one of $22 million in federal aid being distributed for a series of metropolitan area projects. They range from refurbishing the exterior of Albany’s City Hall to modernizing the facilities of the nursing programs at Siena College and Maria College.
The money comes from the $1.7 trillion package of appropriations bills Congress passed just before Christmas. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on December 29, while vacationing in St. Croix.
Schumer said in an interview Thursday that the Disability Services Center’s integrated medical services are intended to provide “one-stop” treatment services for those served there. must be seen at various facilities and clinics, which can delay treatment and require medical records to be mailed, further delaying treatment and increasing costs.
“It’s the first time that people with severe disabilities can get really good medical care instead of having to travel from one place to another,” Schumer said in an interview. “It’s a one-stop shop. …This kind of service is really the first of its kind not only in the metropolitan area, but also in Japan.…It saves a lot of money because you don’t have to make 4. You can stop by different places and see 4 different doctors. increase.”
Senators said “congressional-directed spending” from the omnibus bill would go to nonprofits and government agencies under a system they said would be more transparent. was abusing earmarks, but we got rid of them,” he said.
Headquartered on South Manning Boulevard in Albany, the Center for Disability Services operates approximately 50 group homes in the area that provide educational and vocational training programs and residential spaces with medical care and supportive services. Officials there say the center’s mission is to empower people with disabilities, promote independence, and enable them to live healthier lives.
Greg Sorrentino, president and CEO of the Center for Disability Services, said the funding provides an opportunity to “build a real healthcare system for individuals with disabilities.”
“These grants will enable much-needed integrated health records, leading to better, more compassionate and more accessible healthcare approaches for individuals with disabilities.” Integrated care with experienced providers in accessible facilities improves the lives of individuals with disabilities, and Centers for Disability Services will continue to be a place where people’s lives improve. helps. ”
Schumer said funding for nursing programs at Siena College and Maria College is slated at a time when New York, including the metropolitan area, is facing severe staffing shortages in the health care industry, including nurses. rice field. Her more than 12,000 nurses at seven hospitals in New York City, he said, will need employers to include pay increases, health insurance benefits and safer staffing ratios if they don’t offer new work contracts. They are threatening to go on strike on Monday.
Siena College will receive $496,000 in federal funding, and $770,088 has been allocated to Maria College’s Nursing Program. The funds will help develop virtual reality simulation labs and clinical teaching equipment.
Schumer said federal funds secured with the support of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will also support other metropolitan projects, including:
- Providing the University of Albany with $1.35 million to expand a Vertical Sensing Assessment initiative that helps predict and monitor climate change and extreme weather by studying planetary boundary layers.
- $520,000 to the University of Albany to enhance ion beam irradiation and ion implantation services to researchers in academia, industry, and government agencies;
- The City of Albany invested $1.5 million in numerous renovations to restore the look of the historic City Hall building.
- $4.4 million to Greenwich Village to rebuild and expand a wastewater treatment plant.
- Provides $2 million to Hudson Valley Community College to acquire the latest technology, state-of-the-art lab equipment, and classroom furnishings to complement the expansion of health sciences, STEM, and craft programs.
- $5 million for the Capital Region Aquatic Center, a first-of-its-kind to host and house large-scale swimming and community events, including law enforcement training and swimming instruction for all ages. to develop and construct regional complexes in
- Donated $400,000 to the City of Albany to make the Hoffman Park Community Center more accessible. This includes installing ramps and building disabled toilets.
- RISE Housing and Support Services will invest $2.3 million to add a second floor to the existing main office building and reconfigure the ground floor of the office.
- Donate $55,000 to the town of Brunswick to restore the Vanderheyden Reservoir Dam.
- Donated $1 million to the Silver Bay YMCA in Warren County on Lake George to upgrade its wellness center and gymnasium.
