ConnextCare Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for External Respiratory Center During National Health Center Week

ConnextCare is pleased to announce the winner of the annual Kathy A. Ellis Scholarship. This year’s $500 scholarship winner is Ashley Rupert, LPN. The Kathy A. Ellis Scholarship is awarded annually to an individual entering a program or continuing education in the field of nursing. Rupert is continuing her education to become a Registered Nurse through Excelsior College.

ConnextCare has concluded a nearly 10-month construction project at their Pulaski location and is now seeing patients at their new External Respiratory Center (ERC).

Last summer, ConnextCare broke ground on a site-wide construction project that included 800 square-feet of additional clinical space, with a covered canopy and testing center; four electric car charging stations; a gazebo powered and equipped with Wi-Fi; an 1,100 square-foot walking trail for staff and community use and .7 acres of new parking spaces and reconstruction of the existing staff parking lot.

On Friday, May 5^th, ConnextCare will begin seeing their first patients in the new External Respiratory Center, which includes three new exam rooms, two of which are negative-pressure rooms. These spaces will be used for acute care appointments to allow for the continuous air exchange within the space to keep staff and patients safe from suspected communicable diseases. The negative pressure rooms will also be utilized to complete Pulmonary Function Testing for patients with COPD as well as Spirometry Testing to assess asthmatic patients, as these two tests have not been easily accessible locally throughout the COVID pandemic. There is also a small lab on site to allow for point of care testing for things such as flu, COVID and strep throat, so when possible, patients will leave with a confirmed diagnosis and treatment plan to address their condition.

ConnextCare has announced plans to expand dental services to the School Based Health Centers in the Lura Sharp and Pulaski Middle/Senior High School.

Last fall ConnextCare collaborated with the Pulaski District to submit a grant to the New York State Department of Health to expand dental services in the Pulaski School District as part of the States’ School Based Health Center (SBHC) Dental Home Program. In April, ConnextCare received notification from the Department of Health that funds had been granted to move forward with this project.

“We are very grateful  for  the partnership we have with ConnextCare,” stated  Tom Jennings,  Pulaski  Schools Superintendent, “the services provided through our School Based Health Centers have a major impact on our students and their families. Expanding to include dental services will be tremendous.”

Throughout the month of March ConnextCare will be implementing a new telehealth platform across all of their locations in Oswego County. ConnextCare will now be using their Greenway Electronic Medical Record (EMR) to ensure a more efficient telehealth experience for patients.

Moving forward, patients will be receiving a text message or an email on the day of their scheduled telehealth visit. The text or email will include a link to a video chat that patients will be able to click on and be automatically connected to the telehealth virtual waiting room for admittance to their visit by the ConnextCare team.

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have recognized ConnextCare for success in their treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol in patients.

The American Heart Association’s ‘Check. Change. Control. Cholesterol.’ and ‘Target: Type 2 Diabetes’ programs have recognized ConnextCare for improving quality of care through detection and management of patient’s with high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors. This is achieved through empowering patients with evidence-based strategies and tools and adopting clinical change.

The American Medical Association has also recognized ConnextCare for achieving Gold status through the ‘Target: BP’ program for having 70% or greater blood pressure control and commuting to accurate measurement among ConnextCare’s adult patient population. The ‘Target: BP’ program is a national initiative co-led by the AMA and AHA and celebrates physician practices and health systems that are making the management of hypertension a priority.

ConnextCare is pleased to welcome three new Family Nurse Practitioners at the Mexico, Phoenix and Pulaski offices as well as the addition of a Licensed Master Social Worker at the APW School Based Health Centers.

Carolyn Dudden, FNP-C has joined ConnextCare’s Mexico office after graduating from SUNY Upstate Medical University earlier this year with her Master’s in Nursing. Carolyn had previously worked in various hospitals throughout the Syracuse and Rochester areas before joining the team at ConnextCare.

Alison Flood, FNP-C has joined ConnextCare’s team at the Phoenix office. Alison previously attended SUNY Upstate Medical University where she received her Master’s in Nursing. Prior to joining ConnextCare, Alison worked at Upstate University Hospital as well as working as a cross country traveling nurse.

Amanda Quinn, FNP-C has joined the ConnextCare team at the Pulaski office. Earlier this year Amanda graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical University with a Master’s in Nursing. Previously, Amanda has worked at both Upstate and St. Joseph’s hospitals in Syracuse, NY.

ConnextCare has been awarded a $27,000 grant through Delta Dental Community Care Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Delta Dental of California, making it possible to expand dental services to the Manor at Seneca Hill, a skilled nursing facility in the city of Oswego.

The Delta Dental Community Care Foundation strives to increase access to oral health care, fund oral health education and support organizations that serve vital needs in communities across the country. In January 2020, ConnextCare was approached about the opportunity to serve the residents at The Manor at Seneca Hill. These Foundation grant funds made it possible for ConnextCare to purchase the dental supplies needed to bring these services to the facility.

ConnextCare is excited to announce the winner of its annual Kathy Ellis Scholarship. This year’s $500 scholarship winner is Carrie Kelley, LPN. The Kathy A. Ellis Scholarship is awarded annually to an individual entering a program or continuing education in the field of nursing. Kelley is currently a Licensed Practical Nurse at ConnextCare and is continuing her education to become a Registered Nurse through Excelsior College.

In Kelley’s application she outlines her goals of continuing her education in health care stating; “I plan to continue my education and hope one day to follow in Kathy Ellis’s footsteps and not only become a Registered Nurse, but eventually a Clinical Nurse Practitioner committed to patient care and rural health care excellence.”

In December 2021, Celeste Carnes, Nurse Practitioner, celebrated 30 years of service at ConnextCare, formerly Northern Oswego County Health Services, Inc. (NOCHSI).

Celeste began her career at NOCHSI in 1991 as a Registered Nurse at the Pulaski office. As a life-long resident of Oswego County, she wanted the chance to work in the community where she was raised. At the time, NOCHSI administration agreed to sponsor her through the Community General Nurse Practitioner Program, which, along with Onondaga Community College, is where she went to school to get her degree as a nurse practitioner.

ConnextCare awards scholarship and grant funds in memory of Kathleen A. Ellis, the first Nurse Practitioner in New York State. Ellis was well known in Oswego County. She worked at NOCHSI, now ConnextCare, the Pulaski Health Center, and spent four years working at NOCHSI’s Mexico facility. The community mourned when Ellis lost her battle with cancer and passed away in December 1996 at the age of 52.

The Kathy A. Ellis Scholarship and Grant Funds are awarded to individuals entering a program or continuing their education in the field of nursing. In order to qualify to apply, the candidate must be enrolled or have been accepted into an accredited licensed practical nursing, registered nursing, or nurse practitioner program.

ConnextCare is a Federally Qualified Health Center currently operating 6 health centers and 7 School Based Health Centers throughout Oswego County offering primary care, mental health and dental services. This expansion to Central Square supports ConnextCare’s ongoing mission to provide accessible, comprehensive and premier health care to Oswego County residents and surrounding communities. Tricia Peter-Clark, President and CEO of ConnextCare stated, “We are excited to announce the establishment of a ConnextCare health center on this side of the county. The addition of the Central Square practice further strengthens our ability to deliver high quality health services to new and existing patients at a location that is most convenient for them. We will now be more “connexted” than ever before, with our network spanning across the entire county, providing a medical home for more than the 27,000 patients we already serve today!”

ConnextCare Receives NCQA Recognition for Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration

ConnextCare has recently been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration. The NCQA is a private, non-profit organization that strives to improve the quality of health care. The NCQA Distinction in Behavioral Health Integration is awarded to NCQA-recognized Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs) who excel in integrating behavioral health services into primary care settings.

This week ConnextCare surpassed 11,000 COVID-19 vaccines administered to eligible community members! We are extremely grateful for the teamwork and dedication of our staff to make this possible. We would also like to give a huge "THANK YOU!" to the community members who have trusted ConnextCare to administer their COVID-19 vaccines. We are excited to celebrate this accomplishment and look forward to continuing these efforts! #ConnextCares

Tricia Peter-Clark possesses a first-hand understanding of the importance of adequate rural health care. When she was a child attending school in Sandy Creek, both parents worked. So, her family often relied on the school-based health center there for easier access to care.

The health center, as well as her primary care doctor’s office in Pulaski, was operated by Northern Oswego County Health Services, the predecessor to ConnextCare. Peter-Clark has been chosen by ConnextCare to serve as its next president and chief executive officer. The current chief executive officer, Daniel Dey, plans to retire in June. When she takes the helm, Peter-Clark will be responsible for a patient-centered network of health care practices that has grown to provide services to tens of thousands of patients.

They are the money people — they handle vast sums of money every year and make sure their organizations are on solid financial footing. They deal with budgeting, accounting, audits, cost analysis, data analytics, monthly reporting, revenue cycles, third-party payer contracting with the health insurance companies and much more. And constant changes in state and federal regulations and reimbursement structure only make their jobs a bit more challenging.

Tracy Wimmer

ConnextCare CFO

Played role in unifying operational procedures of various health care centers serving tens of thousands of patients

ConnextCare is now sending Patient Satisfaction Surveys electronically!

We value patient feedback and this new process will help us provide quality care and recognize opportunities for improvement in the future. Following your next appointment, you may receive a text message or email with a link to the survey. Please click the link and complete the questions! As always, we appreciate the support of our patients! #ConnextCares

Chairman Michael C. Backus, on behalf of the Board of Directors of ConnextCare is pleased to announce the promotion of Tricia Peter-Clark as ConnextCare’s next President/Chief Executive Officer effective June 4, 2021.

Peter-Clark currently is the health center’s Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining ConnextCare in 2013, Peter-Clark was the Coordinator of the Rural Health Network of Oswego County and Director of Health Operations, both under the auspices of Oswego County Opportunities (OCO). She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Services from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Leadership from St. Joseph’s College of Maine. She is also a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Beginning on January 13^th, ConnextCare held clinics for the Sandy Creek, APW, Mexico and Pulaski schools to vaccinate district staff members. Efforts continued through the weekend when vaccination clinics were held in the ConnextCare Pulaski and Oswego offices.

Through these efforts, ConnextCare was able to administer 100% of the initial vaccinations received from the New York State Department of Health.

 Last month ConnextCare recognized two of its employees for years of service. Carrie Baird, Clinical Team Leader and Joanne Stevenson, Medical Records Representative were celebrated for twenty-five years of employment at ConnextCare.

Today was an exciting day at ConnextCare! Our staff began receiving their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. This is a monumental step towards protecting our staff and community against COVID-19. Thank you to our entire team for making this day possible! #ConnextCares 

ConnextCare is pleased to announce that we have been recognized by the American Heart Association for achieving an exceptional blood pressure control rate throughout our adult patient population for the year 2020. This is the second year in a row ConnextCare has received this recognition. Congratulations to our staff and patients on this great achievement!

Since March, ConnextCare’s Pulaski office has adjusted patient access, creating separate and distinct entrances for sick and well visits. Hundreds of man-hours have been devoted to screening all patients and visitors to the center for COVID-type symptoms to ensure the utmost safety during these unprecedented times.
Yesterday, ConnextCare’s Pulaski office transitioned patient access back through the main doors. New processes have been implemented through the use of technology to verify patient temperatures, more privately assess COVID-like symptoms and recent travel as well as complete patient registration.

Yesterday, ConnextCare's Pulaski location unveiled a new dental reception area pictured above! This is the first phase of ConnextCare's three-part Oral Health Infrastructure Project. This project will include cosmetic updates to the entire dental suite and lower level, as well as additional administrative offices and bathrooms. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of November.

ConnextCare Chief Medical Officer 

While dedicating one’s life to health care is certainly a noble pursuit, focusing that care on underserved populations such as those seen in the Oswego County region is even more admirable.

Physician Patrick Carguello is the senior vice president and chief medical officer at Connextcare, headquartered in Pulaski. ConnextCare is a federally qualified health center (FQHC), which means it receives federal funding to provide quality medical care in a medically underserved community.