Ground broken on $17.5M urgent care center in Malta

PHOTOGRAPHER: Lee Coleman

Saratoga Hospital and Albany Medical Center broke ground today on a $17.5 million urgent care center, part of a joint venture between the two hospitals, just west of Northway Exit 12 in the town of Malta.

It will be the only such center in the Capital Region staffed 24 hours a day by emergency medicine physicians, according to a statement from the two hospitals.

The center will include medical imaging and laboratory services and will occupy the first floor of a two-story, 60,000-square foot building. The second floor will be home to medical offices for primary care and specialty physicians.

The groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction on the first building at Saratoga Medical Park at Malta. The 140-acre tract of land is owned by Saratoga Hospital near Northway Exit 12 where a large standardbred horse farm was once located.

“At a time when other organizations are focused on competing, Saratoga Hospital and Albany Med have chosen a more innovative and more effective approach—partnering and combining our strengths to better serve our growing community,” said Angelo Calbone, president and CEO, Saratoga Hospital, in a prepared statement.

The joint venture will meet the needs of one of the fastest growing areas in the Capital Region, while providing a cost-effective alternative to emergency room care. The new center will also be minutes away from Luther Forest Technology Campus and GlobalFoundries.

“This is the new frontier of medicine — two hospitals working together toward the common goal of delivering health care services in a smart way,” said James J. Barba, president and CEO, Albany Medical Center, in a statement.