GOUVERNEUR – The team of primary care providers offering services to Gouverneur and surrounding township residents say taking care of patients from these communities is an honor.

This family medicine group is comprised of Gouverneur Hospital Primary Care physician Payam Hadian, MD; DeKalb Junction Health Center provider Nicole Coates, NP; Edwards Health Center and CPH Specialty Suite at Gouverneur Hospital provider Meredith Lizotte, NP; and Edwards Health Center provider John Welborn, NP.

Within his office in the Specialty Suite at Gouverneur Hospital, Dr. Hadian cares for patients of all ages.

“My patients consist of our precious newborns to our resilient North Country elders,” he said. “It is extremely important for individuals and families to have a primary care provider. Having a local provider can lead to better health and save our patients time and money.”

Dr. Hadian noted accessibility to quality healthcare is among the many assets available through Gouverneur Hospital. Once his office has the medical records of a new patient, he has the availability to see that patient within 10 days.

“Our wait times are significantly lower than the national average. My office also welcomes New York State Workers Compensation patients, which saves them from having to drive to Syracuse,” he said.

“Furthermore, if one of my patients needs to see a specialist, I put the referrals in on the same day I see them. Such referrals can be to one of my fellow St. Lawrence Health colleagues, or to a tertiary center such as our parent hospital system, Rochester Regional Health. Often times I will personally call the specialty office to schedule that appointment,” Dr. Hadian stated. “I have been working in Gouverneur for three years, and it has been an honor and privilege to care for our North Country neighbors.”

Nurse Practitioner Lizotte said the Edwards Health Center offers access to local community members who may not always take the time to travel elsewhere for their medical needs.

“I am proud to support the local community by bringing my skills and knowledge to my patients and affording them access to local healthcare,” she said. “Even an annual checkup can help prevent problems in the future. We want to assure that our community members can continue to do what they want and need to do on a daily basis.

“My goal and responsibility as a primary care provider is to educate and work with my patients to develop a treatment plan that is realistic and achievable. It is important to me for my patients to feel cared for and know we are working to address their needs and concerns,” Lizotte said.

She pointed out that along with a patient’s mental and physical health, she wants her patients to entrust her with their financial and travel concerns if they have any.

Lizotte’s patients have the unique opportunity to visit her in Edwards on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, or at Gouverneur Hospital in the Specialty Suite on Friday.

Nurse Practitioner Welborn further noted the Edwards Health Center is a very special medical facility that treats patients beginning at the age of 16.

“We care for patients with chronic health concerns, as well as minor acute illnesses such as bacterial or viral sinus infections or cold-like symptoms,” he said. “With each visit, we assess and reassess every patient for quality of life issues, and when necessary, we freely refer them to a specialist for advanced care.”

Mr. Welborn echoed the fact that a family practitioner is extremely important for a person’s quality of life, health, and longevity.

“We encourage everyone to seek out and establish a relationship with a family provider. At the Edwards clinic we are always happy to see you and help you get the healthcare you deserve. Our facility has served the community for many years and will continue to do so,” he said.

Nurse Practitioner Coates said the DeKalb Junction Health Center was established to provide primary care services to the community so the residents do not have to travel for these important services.

“Nurse Practitioners are independently responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of our patients in New York State. New patients would ideally make their first appointment as an opportunity for me to review their medical history and health habits. This provides a great foundation to develop a treatment plan that aligns with each patient's health goals,” she said.

Patients who go to any of Gouverneur Hospital’s three primary care locations are encouraged to make their appointments with one provider, rather than going from site to site.

“In order to give the best care possible, continuity of care with the same provider at every visit is crucial. Patients should not have multiple primary care providers,” Ms. Coates said.

“If it is determined a patient requires the services of a specialist, a referral is often made to a specialist within St. Lawrence Health. Our record system, CareConnect, is shared across the healthcare system, so patients do not need to be concerned about their specialist and/or primary care provider getting results or office notes from one another,” she added.

To learn more about St. Lawrence Health’s primary care team, visit https://stlawrencehealthsystem.org/Services/Primary-Care. Along with its primary care providers, Gouverneur Hospital also has specialists in the fields of cardiology, general surgery, OB/GYN, and Podiatry.

The Primary Care office in Gouverneur Hospital’s Specialty Suite is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.; appointments may be made by calling 315-287-7700.

DeKalb Junction Health Center is open Monday – Thursday from 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; appointments may be scheduled by calling 315-347-3830.

Edwards Health Center is open Monday - Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; appointments may be scheduled by calling 315-562-1055.