What to Expect for Your Next Visit

Get the Care You Need. We’re Ready, Safe and Open for You.

The providers you know and trust are here to safely deliver the care you need through video, telephone and in-person visits. We look forward to welcoming you into our facilities for outpatient and elective procedures. Please don’t hesitate to call your provider with any of your health questions or concerns.

How We’re Helping to Protect You and Others

• Screening: If you visit the hospital or one of our facilities, we’ll take your temperature and ask you a few health questions. If you have respiratory complaints or a fever, you’ll be routed safely to care.
• Masking: For everyone’s protection, wearing a mask while you are in our care is required. If you don’t have a mask, we can supply one to you and even show you how to wear it properly, making sure to cover your mouth and nose.
• Hand Washing: Proper handwashing is another important tool in combating COVID-19. When you arrive and during your time with us, please practice safe hand hygiene. Use the readily available hand sanitizer and when you are able, wash your hands with soap and water. When you get home, wash your hands again and wipe down your phone and any other items you brought with you to the appointment.
• Social Distancing:  We’ve made changes to our waiting rooms and seating areas to support safe social distancing of at least 6 feet. Some of our waiting rooms have fewer chairs or are using floor markings to create a “circle of health” to help with appropriate distancing.  If you are waiting in line, to check in for instance, please be sure keep that 6 foot distance between you and the next patient.  In some instances, you may be asked to wait in your car and we’ll call you then bring you right to an exam room. 
• Cleaning and Sanitizing:  Our Environmental Services team continues to maintain a clean and safe environment in our facilities. Following CDC and New York State Department of Health guidelines, they are cleaning exam rooms between each patient visit.  You’ll notice too that they are more frequently cleaning common areas and wiping down surfaces. To support safety measures, we have temporarily removed magazines and newspapers from our waiting rooms.
• Visitor Policy: The health and safety of our patients and employees is our top priority. In light of COVID-19, there are some important guidelines from the New York State Department of Health we want you to be aware of before coming to the hospital. Click here to view our current visitor policy.

Designated Entrances and Screening: You can enter our facility at the following locations:

• Main Lobby – Open daily from 5am – 5pm
• MRI/North Entrance (Next to the Emergency Department) - Open 5 am - 9:30 pm
  (Please use the Emergency Department Entrance outside of this time)
• FitzPatrick Cancer Center - Open Monday - Friday 6am - 5pm
• Medical Office Buildings, 206 Cornelia Street - Open 6am - 5pm
• Medical Arts Building, 214 Cornelia Street - Open 7:30am - 4pm

At each of these locations, we will screen all who enter. You’ll be asked a few health-related questions and have your temperature checked. They are staffed with friendly folks who can help get where you need to be. 

Schedule Your Lab Work:  Please call (518) 562-7340 to schedule lab work.  By scheduling this service, we can reduce wait times and keep the number of people in our waiting areas to a minimum. Lab appointments can now also be requested online. Click here to request your appointment today.

Review Provided Instructions Before You Arrive: In some cases, you will receive detailed instructions about your appointment or procedure from your physician or provider.  This may include information such as eating or drinking specifications or restrictions, taking or pausing medication, pre-procedure hygiene, coordinating a driver or pre-procedure COVID-19 testing. Some instructions may direct you to wait in your car and call your provider upon arrival. This is being done to help support social distancing and patient flow in our facilities.

• Bring Your Phone or Device, Fully Charged: Make sure your phone or device is fully charged and bring a charger along if you anticipate a lengthy wait. Free WiFi is available and we do have charging stations in select waiting areas.  Ask any staff member for assistance if you have difficulty accessing the internet. And, if you plan to use audio, please use your earpieces or headphones to respect the quiet needs of other patients.
• Bring Things You Enjoy: To support safety measures, we have temporarily removed magazines and newspapers from our waiting rooms. So you may want to consider having your favorite music, TV show, podcast or game downloaded to your device to pass the time – don’t forget your earpieces or headphones, please – particularly if your appointment may be lengthy.
• Be Ready for Questions, Answers and Notes: Before your appointment or procedure, it’s always a good idea to write down any questions you have for your provider or things you’d like them to know about your health. Take notes during your discussion with your provider, whether on paper or your electronic device, so you can refer back to them once home. You may also receive information about your treatment, medicines or follow-up appointments. If you will need an interpreter at your appointment, please contact your provider’s office ahead of time so they can make necessary arrangements.
• Outpatient Pharmacy Walk-In Service Resumes: The Outpatient Pharmacy is open for walk-in prescription pick up. Now, customers can gain entry to our facility through the MRI entrance and once screened, proceed to the Outpatient Pharmacy. For those with health and safety concerns who cannot enter the facility, curbside service remains an option. Call (518) 562-7158 upon arrival to make curbside arrangements.
• Share Your Concerns with Us: If you’re feeling uncomfortable, nervous or stressed before or during your visit, please let your provider or a staff member know. Medical appointments can cause anxiety, but these feelings of unease may be greater now. Rest assured, we’re here to help.