PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -
Residents in northern Clinton County will not have to travel as many trips to Plattsburgh for medical care.
Champlain Health Center Monday became the first federally qualified health center in Clinton County. It will become part of the Hudson Headwaters Health Network. Officials with the Champlain Health Center say it was becoming increasingly difficult to run, but now the federal government will pick up some of the bill. That will allow the facility to offer more specialized care - like x-rays and ultrasounds.
"They are going to be having full time lab service, so blood can be drawn here, so that patients don't have to travel to Plattsburgh who are not part of the clinic. And physical therapy is another example -- ambulatory services that will also start coming in that will save that 50 mile round trip," said the center's Maurice Racine.
The goal is to build a new facility that will also include a teaching facility for nurse practitioners from local hospitals like CVPH and Fletcher Allen, and medical schools from across the region.
