Primary Care Transitioned to Evergreen Health and People Inc. Rehabilitative Health Services Provided, both specializing in services for people with developmental disabilities.

September 14, 2021: A celebration was held earlier today to announce the opening of the new People Inc. Health Services Building, offering multiple medical services for people of all abilities and ages. Enhanced care will be provided through innovative partnerships, enabling medical physicians, nurse practitioners, clinical support staff and social workers to work as a team all under one roof offering a coordinated approach to the delivery of health care. The People Inc. Health Services Building, a newly-constructed medical facility, located at 800 Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, NY, corner of Elmwood and Hertel Avenues, is a culmination of a goal set years ago through fundraising and seeking the best partners.

Known for its innovative services, People Inc. is moving its patient-base from its affiliate, the Elmwood Health Center, to the new building and is proud to embark on a new partnership with Evergreen Heath. This partnership will help ensure sustainability for primary and specialty medical care, all under one roof for thousands of patients, while also opening opportunities for continued collaboration. Primary healthcare (Adult and Pediatric Medicine, Gynecology, Podiatry and Neurology Services) will be transitioned to Evergreen at the People Inc. Health Services Building. Evergreen will move to the new location on October 1 and begin seeing patients at that location on October 4. There will be no interruption in the delivery of patient care, as the Elmwood Health Center medical providers will become Evergreen providers. Rehab Services (Article 16 Clinic), formerly Elmwood Health Center Rehab, will also be offered at this new building through People Inc. Rehabilitative Health Services.

Effective October 4, People Inc. Rehabilitative Health Services and Evergreen will begin providing their services. Pharmacy services through Evergreen will also be offered at a later date. This building will continue to be owned by People Inc., with the primary care clinic and pharmacy operated by Evergreen. The building will include: People Inc. Rehabilitative Health Services and Counseling Services, as well as People First Mobility, a medical business providing durable medical equipment and wheelchairs. Additionally, ECMC Dental is part of the expanded health services, offering dental services opening later this year.

The new $10 million health center and 32,000 square feet facility, replaces the 13,000 square feet that comprised the Elmwood Health Center, at 2128 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo. The new building, located just a few blocks away and on a bus route, will offer more services and patient parking. Growing from 500 patients in 1994, when People Inc. established the Elmwood Health Center to more than 5,000 patients, the new location will have the capacity to provide specialty services to over 7,000 patients.

For more than 50 years, People Inc. has established a reputation for its innovative services and exceptional healthcare supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families and older adults. The health and human services agency is pleased to partner with Evergreen. Prior to the global COVID-19 pandemic, People Inc. began identifying potential partners and selected Evergreen for its similar mission, values and experience supporting those who are underserved by the healthcare system. Evergreen is an FQHC-Look-Alike, which will bring in rates that can sustain operations, whereas the Elmwood Health Center has had unsustainable rates for years.

Patients will continue to benefit from the same exceptional service provided, as the Elmwood Health Center Primary Care team (Article 28 Clinic) staff will transition to become employees of Evergreen.

People Inc. continues to operate various health services, including Early Intervention, People Certified Home Health, Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program and telemedicine.

The People Inc. Health Services Building project is funded by: NYS Department of Health, Congressman Chris Jacobs NYS Senate Funding, People Inc. Foundation, First Niagara Foundation, John R. Oishei Foundation, B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, Independent Health Foundation, KeyBank, M&T Bank Foundation, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, James H. Cummings Foundation, Garman Family Foundation, J. M. McDonald Foundation, Maria Love Convalescent Foundation and Josephine Goodyear Foundation.

The celebration event featured remarks from several prominent officials, along with acknowledgments from agency leadership, a ceremonial ribbon cutting and guided tours of the new medical building.

People Inc. President and CEO Rhonda Frederick: “After years of planning, we are excited to move forward with our new partnerships. An emphasis on quality and patient-focused care are the trademarks of what the community can expect from the services that will be offered at our People Inc. Health Services Building. I want to thank everyone – our healthcare associates, funders and community supporters, who have come together to provide enhanced medical care. To all of the staff, we appreciate their dedication and the tremendous work they do every day. This new medical facility is a great example of the work that we are all doing to ensure that medical care is accessible – all in one place – creating a more inclusive community.”

Evergreen Health President and CEO Raymond Ganoe: “I’m thrilled to be here today to celebrate the grand opening of 800 Hertel Avenue and our partnership with People Inc., a partnership that benefits patients, impacts health outcomes, keeps our organizations financially viable and improves the health of our community. People Inc. and Evergreen are both local organizations with long histories of serving populations that have been underserved by the healthcare system, and we welcome patients to 800 Hertel Avenue and the Evergreen family with an unwavering commitment to judgment-free, affirming and patient-centered care.”

Dr. Elizabeth Kapral, DDS, MS, director, Special Needs Dentistry, ECMC Dental/Oral Oncology: “The dental team at ECMC is excited to continue to provide the highest level of care to some of our most vulnerable patients at 800 Hertel Avenue in Buffalo. The new state-of-the-art dental center will offer the full range of general dentistry, from routine cleanings to comprehensive restorative care. Dental care will be offered for patients of all abilities.”

Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown: “People Inc. is one of our City’s great partners, be it providing affordable housing on Jefferson Avenue or ensuring that our residents have access to high quality, affordable health care in our community. As our City continues to grow, change and deal with this next phase of the pandemic, continued access to healthcare is a critical component of our social and economic success. I thank People Inc. and Evergreen Health for continuing to invest in Buffalo with an expansion of services in new Health Services Building on Hertel Avenue. While this expansion in North Buffalo is great news, I also want to thank the talented medical staff and support team of both People Inc. and Evergreen Health, who are at the forefront of providing care to our residents, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This expansion will play an important role in helping us further strengthen the health and wellness of our community.” 

U.S. Congressmember Brian Higgins: “This is a great project that brings together some of the best service providers in the region in a collaborative way to improve access to care for patients and to also build a holistic synergy around how our community helps people.”

U.S. Congressmember Chris Jacobs: “I am excited to finally welcome the new People Inc. Health Services facility and I want to thank them for their steadfast commitment to our Western New York community. I made it a priority to secure them $1 million in funding as a State Senator, and I look forward to continuing a strong partnership together at the federal level. This is a very unique facility in that People Inc. and Evergreen health will provide a wide range of critical health care services to residents in the surrounding community, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities – a truly inclusive and comprehensive health care model.”

Senator Sean Ryan: “For decades, People Inc. has provided a wide range of health and human services to the people of Western New York. The opening of the Health Services Building kicks off an exciting new chapter for People Inc. and Evergreen Health, and brings a variety of important physical and mental health services to one convenient location right in the heart of North Buffalo.”

Assemblyman Bill Conrad: “The pandemic has not only taxed American healthcare providers, it has also exposed longstanding inequities in our healthcare system. I am grateful that here in Western New York, we have an agency like People Inc., which – since well before we’d even heard of COVID-19 – has been tending to the health and wellness needs of our most vulnerable citizens, including the residents of traditionally underserved areas and individuals with developmental disabilities. The new People Inc. Health Services Building, offering a ‘one-stop’ center for the holistic care of each patient, with more space in an easy-to-reach location, is a testament to the mission of People Inc. and its partner, Evergreen Health. I commend People Inc. and Evergreen Health for their continued commitment to our community, and I thank its team of loyal supporters, both public and private.”

People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, special needs, families and older adults throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted people to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. With nearly 4,000 employees, People Inc. is one of the region’s largest employers. To learn more, visit people-inc.org, follow People Inc. on Facebook or Twitter @PeopleIncNews.

Evergreen Health fosters healthy communities by providing medical, supportive and behavioral services to individuals and families in Western New York – especially those who are living with chronic illness or who are underserved by the healthcare system.

People First Mobility, a durable medical equipment division of People Inc., is Western New York’s premier provider of mobility, seating and home medical equipment to assist people with disabling conditions reach their functional potential in their home and community.

The ECMC Center for Dental Care provides general dental health services for families, including people with special needs, providing a variety of treatments and procedures. Services are provided for patients who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injury and dementia, among other complex medical conditions.