Upstate University Expands its Services

Upstate University Hospital is expanding its services to the north.

Upstate University Hospital opened a new location for its Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) services in Liverpool, at 8687 Carling Road, near the Wegmans Great Northern store.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is just one of the services that eventually will be located in the building, which has been vacant since Bryant and Stratton College moved out in early 2020

Upstate officials say they are in talks to move other services to this location, but no commitments are firm yet. The building lease with Upstate is for 10 years.

“We are excited to call Clay home for our services,” said Upstate CEO Robert Corona, DO, MBA. “With Clay and the northern suburbs growing and project to see significant growth in the coming years, we believe this location will serve our existing patients and new patients with the convenience of having our important services nearby.”

This new location is situated about 17 miles from Upstate’s campus in Syracuse.

The expansion of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation services brings to the northern suburbs one of Upstate’s most in-demand services. It will be PMR’s eighth location and could expect to see upwards of 200 patients a day.

The new location offers an array of services, including concussion management, physical occupational and speech language therapy, essential therapies for rehabilitating patients suffering from stroke, brain injury and other neurological disorders, such as Parkinson disease.

“This state-of-the-art facility is designed to provide easy accessibility, and program capability to serve individuals with disabilities,” said Robert Weber, MD, chair of Upstate’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “In addition to expanding access for individuals with concussion, traumatic brain injury orthopedic issues, the facility will offer rehabilitation and medical programs for individuals with stroke, spinal cord injury/diseases, and other disabilities, as well as anyone needing physical and occupational therapy or speech language therapy services.”

The expansion of services is driven by the growing demand for physical therapy and rehabilitation services, which is a national trend, Weber said.

“An aging population and a desire to maintain mobility and manage age-related conditions is increasing the demand for our physical therapy and rehabilitation services.”

The key feature of the PMR location is a spacious track lined with a range of exercise equipment aimed at healing and improving body function.

Another highlight of PMR offerings is the Safe Gate Balance and Mobility Trainer, a body support, fall protection system, which is attached to an overhead track and is worn like a harness. It ensures safe patient handling, promotes confidence in the patient and can enhance therapeutic intensity. The patients are placed in the harness and can participate in numerous therapeutic exercises with no fear of falling.

This new PMR location offers a kitchen, laundry room and bedroom for occupational therapy. These areas are designed to retrain and practice normal activities of daily living to assist with life at home.

Physician offices, exam rooms for adults and children as well as a spacious waiting area round out the PMR space.

Also at this location is a Patient Blood Draw Service Center. It is one of 12 such centers Upstate runs in Onondaga and Oneida counties.

Currently Upstate occupies 18,000 square feet or nearly half the building. Upstate will be the only tenant of the building and expects to open up additional services in the coming year. The building lease with Upstate is for 10 years.

Free parking is plentiful at the new location.