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CDPHP Opens 'Doctor's Office Of The Future' In Clifton Park

A new facility dubbed “The Doctor’s Office of the Future” has opened in Clifton Park, New York. The new site on Route 9, named for its address, “1785,” is a partnership between insurer CDPHP and several local medical practices, including: Albany ENT & Allergy Services, Albany Gastroenterology Consultants, Capital Cardiology Associates, and Capital District Renal Physicians. At a ribbon cutting Tuesday, CDPHP President John Bennett said that partnership is integral to the building’s mission.

“It creates a place where care is seamlessly connected to eliminate the concern, confusion, and anxiety that so many of us face when dealing with a health condition," said Bennett. "At 1785, we’ve made a commitment to take the burden off the backs of patients, because when you’re sick, the only thing you should be worrying about is getting better.”

1785
Credit Jesse King / WAMC
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WAMC

What makes 1785 “the doctor’s office of the future” is its amenities. There are the shiny things, like valet parking, electric car stations, cozy waiting areas, and snacks from Capital Roots. But Lisa Sasko, senior vice president of business development at CDPHP, says there are also more essential services. In the “patient education center” on the first floor, patients can look up questions on both their coverage and their health – without the panic that a Google search for a headache sometimes provides. 

“We have worked with the doctors to identify the web links, the societies, the organizations – the information they want their patients to have. Because often times, there’s a lot of misinformation that patients come in with," says Sasko. "They have selected sites that we then work with, and allow the patients to come in, get information, print it off, and support them in finding what they need.”

Sasko played a considerable role in planning the building over the last two years. She says much of it centered on making 1785 as comfortable and convenient as possible. Multiple trips between the doctor’s office, labs, and pharmacies can make navigating one’s health more difficult, and therefore result in gaps in care.

At 1785, patients can access a lab and pharmacy on site, with home delivery services if needed. Should their doctor recommend behavioral health services, patients can connect with a specialist before they leave, via the sound booths, or “telemedicine pods,” on the first floor. 

We did some member advisory committee meetings – which means CDPHP members, other members in the community – and the one thing they said is they needed behavioral health access. We know it’s terrible, because there’s just not enough behavioral health clinicians. And they said, by the time [patients] leave and go home, life sort of gets in the way and they don’t get access to care," Sasko explains. "So by giving them an opportunity to connect before they leave, we think that people will more readily take it up, and they’ll get better care, holistic care.”

Clifton Park Town Supervisor Phil Barrett
Credit Jesse King / WAMC
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WAMC
Clifton Park Town Supervisor Phil Barrett

1785 is one of several health facilities along Route 9 (including Community Care Physicians next door), but its addition gives practices like Capital Cardiology an opening in Saratoga County. Speaking at the ribbon cutting Tuesday, Clifton Park Town Supervisor Phil Barrett called the facility a welcome addition.

“We’re more than happy and proud to have all of these folks here, serving people in Clifton Park, southern Saratoga County, and around the county," he added.

Sasko says the site expects up to 500 patients a day to start. By way of disclosure, CDPHP has been a WAMC underwriter. 

Jesse King is the host of WAMC's national program on women's issues, "51%," and the station's bureau chief in the Hudson Valley. She has also produced episodes of the WAMC podcast "A New York Minute In History."