Community leaders and UConn Health officials were on hand today to celebrate the construction of a new Canton Medical Office building at 115 Albany Turnpike.
State Sen. Kevin Witkos (R-Canton), State Rep. Tim LeGeyt (R-Avon, Canton), and Canton First Selectman Richard Barlow were among those who gathered at the corner of Lawton Road and Route 44 where the two-story, 17,000 sq. ft. building will be located next to CVS Pharmacy.
The services to be offered in the building include urgent care, family practice/internal medicine, dermatology/MOHS surgery, a blood draw station, and a digital radiology unit.
“The construction of this new medical office building will expand access to quality health care for the citizens of Canton and the surrounding towns,” said Dr. Denis Lafreniere, medical director of outpatient services and associate dean for clinical affairs. “UConn Health is proud to offer these clinical services and we look forward to the opening early next year.”
Staffing for the Canton office will include physicians and support staff which could mean up to 40 full-and part-time new jobs, according to Jim Thibeault, UConn Health’s director of strategy and planning.
Witkos told the group that adding new, well-paying jobs is an economic plus for the region, while closer access to an urgent care center offers health benefits and may help residents avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency department.
LeGeyt talked about the ongoing and accelerating trend toward outpatient facilities and regional care centers. “It’s very positive and town healthy that this project that we ground break for today get underway,” said LeGeyt. “It’s a project that will enrich the lives of our citizens in several ways as the landscape change in health care comes to Canton.”
UConn Health has a 15-year lease with a private development company, Sard Realty, LLC in Avon.
Construction of the building is expected to be completed by the end of 2014 with occupancy scheduled for early April 2015.
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