St. Peter's Health Partners Reaffirms Commitment to Schenectady Through Significant Investments in Patient Access, Outpatient Care, and Acute Care Services

Health system is advancing new ambulatory surgery center, orthopedic expansion, rehabilitation services, physician growth, and nearly $100 million in hospital-based investments across the Capital Region

ALBANY, N.Y. -- St. Peter's Health Partners (SPHP) today reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Schenectady County and the Capital Region through a series of planned significant investments in physician practices, outpatient services, rehabilitation care, and acute care infrastructure. 

While St. Peter's recently announced that merger discussions with Ellis Medicine have concluded, the health system emphasized that its commitment to Schenectady remains unchanged. SPHP continues to invest in services, facilities, and providers that improve access to high-quality care across the region. These investments ensure Schenectady residents continue to have meaningful choice when it comes to their healthcare, with access to a broad network of physicians, specialists, outpatient services, and advanced hospital care available in the St. Peter's Health Partners system, including St. Peter's Hospital and Samaritan Hospital.

Most recently, SPHP submitted plans to New York state seeking approval for a $17.3 million multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center at Capital Region Health Park in Latham. The proposed center would expand access to same-day surgical services in a modern, patient-centered setting and represents one of the health system's largest recent outpatient investments.

The ambulatory surgery center is part of SPHP's broader strategy to expand access to specialty and outpatient care while creating a comprehensive destination for patients throughout Schenectady, Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and surrounding counties.

"Our investments reflect exactly where St. Peter's Health Partners is focused: improving access to care for the communities we serve," said Kellie Valenti, President of St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates. "We are investing in new facilities, growing specialty services, recruiting providers, and creating more convenient care options for patients. These are long-term commitments that demonstrate our confidence in the future of this region."

As part of that strategy, SPHP recently announced the relocation and expansion of St. Peter's Orthopedics to Capital Region Health Park. The 45,000-square-foot practice will serve as the foundation of a growing orthopedic and rehabilitation hub designed to meet increasing demand for musculoskeletal care. The practice currently includes eight providers, with additional recruitment underway.

Expanded rehabilitation services are under consideration for the location, connecting those services to Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital, one of the Capital Region's premier rehabilitation providers and a longstanding cornerstone of SPHP's presence in Schenectady. In addition, SPHP is investing approximately $9 million at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital to establish a new seven-bed pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit, expanding access to specialized physical medicine and rehabilitation services for pediatric patients across the region. The new unit is scheduled to open in early 2027.

At the same time, SPHP is investing nearly $100 million in hospital-based improvements across its system over the next two years, including operating room modernization, critical care upgrades, cutting-edge technology, interventional radiology enhancements, and cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology projects.

"Our strategic vision extends across the full continuum of care," said Dr. Steven Hanks, President and CEO of St. Peter's Health Partners. "While we are expanding access through ambulatory and outpatient services, we are also making substantial investments in our hospitals and advanced clinical capabilities. Patients deserve exceptional care wherever they enter the system, and we are committed to delivering that experience. Our goal is simple: provide patients with outstanding local access while ensuring they can choose a healthcare system anchored by St. Peter's Hospital, the Capital Region's hospital of choice for advanced, high-quality care."

SPHP is also exploring additional opportunities for new state-of-the-art Medical Associates provider space in Schenectady County to further improve access and provide patients with more options to receive care close to home. The health system expects these investments to create additional employment opportunities while expanding care options for local residents. An announcement is expected in the next few weeks regarding this new space.

"Far from reducing our presence in Schenectady, we are actively building for the future," Valenti said. "Every day, Schenectady residents rely on our physicians, Sunnyview caregivers, rehabilitation specialists, outpatient practices, and home care teams. We remain committed to strengthening those services and investing in the communities we serve."

As healthcare continues to evolve, SPHP's strategy focuses on expanding access, enhancing the patient experience, and providing coordinated care across both outpatient and hospital settings.

"Schenectady remains an important part of our future," Valenti said. "We are investing today to ensure patients throughout the region have access to the high-quality care they need for decades to come."

About St. Peter’s Health Partners

With 11,000 employees in more than 185 locations, St. Peter’s Health Partners is one of the Capital Region’s largest and most comprehensive not-for-profit integrated health care networks, and provides high-quality, compassionate, and sophisticated care to thousands of people every day. St. Peter’s Health Partners is a member of Trinity Health, one of the nation’s largest Catholic health systems. For more information, please visit www.sphp.com.