Fort Drum secures funds to expand clinic

Drum secures funds to expand clinic
GROWING POPULATION: More space at Guthrie may relieve some pressure on medical facilities in region
By SARAH M. RIVETTE
TIMES STAFF WRITER
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2008
FORT DRUM — Expansion of Guthrie Medical Clinic could mean less strain on the region's other medical facilities.

"It'll take a load off the community because we won't be competing for those appointments," said Col. Jerome Penner III, commander of the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity, who oversees the medical clinics and the wounded soldier unit at Fort Drum.

He said that while it's difficult to staff medical positions in the north country, the post has increased its staffing levels over the past year. He noted the increase in behavioral health specialists on post, going from 34 counselors at this time last year to 50. These increased numbers of staff members across all areas, he said, should take pressure off the outside community, on which Fort Drum has been dependent for its health-care needs.

Fort Drum secured $27.5 million in funding to create a 49,500-square-foot addition to the clinic and to renovate the 62,500-square-foot building. The construction would bring family and soldier care into one building, instead of having them at separate facilities on post. The Guthrie Clinic now serves only family members and operates a physical therapy unit for soldiers.

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