The Center for Discovery Announces Plans To Build First of Its Kind Children's Specialty Hospital And Research Institute

The Center Moves to Advance New York State's Life Science Research Cluster

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Oct 25, 2018, 10:00 ET

HARRIS, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for Discovery (TCFD) has purchased the former Frontier Insurance Headquarters, located in Rock Hill, NY. In an effort to significantly advance the Life Sciences and raise the standard of complex care in New York State, the building will house a Special Education Academy (853 school), a Children's Specialty Hospital, and The Research Institute for Brain and Body Health, with an expected completion date in 2020.

The first floor of the building will be converted into an Education Academy, an expansion of TCFD's existing school program. The academy will allow TCFD to serve at least 42 additional students with complex disabilities from the surrounding communities, including Orange, Rockland, and Westchester counties. The school expansion will also feature classrooms and a gymnasium, athletic fields, and paved walking and biking paths.

The building's second floor will house a new Children's Specialty Hospital, which will be at the forefront of connecting research and innovation. Currently, there are no short-term inpatient assessment programs in NYS for children with complex developmental disabilities. Improved understanding of underlying physiological, medical and mental health problems will lead to more targeted treatments and interventions, all with the goal of enabling children and adolescents to stay at home, in school, and integrated in the community. This sub-acute, short-term hospital is a new model of care that is expected to save the state millions of dollars each year.

The third floor of the building will be converted into a state-of-the-art Research Institute for Brain and Body Health. In partnership with leading national and international physicians, research scientists, academic colleagues, and philanthropic partners, the Research Institute will significantly expand TCFD's already robust research program.

"Not only do we have years of longitudinal data on a population that no others have studied, but with the addition of The Research Institute, we have the capacity to collect a tremendous amount of additional data and apply those learnings across broader spectrums, particularly in the study of complex conditions across the lifespan," said Dr. Terry Hamlin, Associate Executive Director of The Center for Discovery. The Research Institute will facilitate pioneering studies to inform interventions, techniques, and tools for individuals with autism, complex medical frailties, Alzheimer's and dementia, and other complex conditions.

"Our overarching goal for this multi-faceted project is to implement groundbreaking new models of care for complex conditions, which can ultimately be replicated throughout New York State and the nation," said Patrick H. Dollard, President and CEO of The Center for Discovery. "We are grateful to Ira Steingart and the Sullivan County IDA, along with William Rieber and other local officials, for their tremendous leadership and support in moving this project forward."

William Rieber, Thompson Supervisor, stated, "The Town of Thompson was excited to work with The Center for Discovery in their acquisition of the former Frontier Insurance property. The project will not only create higher end employment opportunities for Thompson but serve children with complex autism, seizure disorders, and more. The impact is so positive economically and to our most fragile population. "

"This facility will bring a wide range of economic and community benefits to Sullivan County, providing much-needed services, creating high-quality jobs, improving health outcomes, and bringing back to life a prime commercial property that has gone unused for several years," added Ira Steingart, Sullivan County Legislator and Chairman of the Sullivan County IDA. "From the perspective of the IDA, it's a fantastic project."

About The Center for Discovery: The Center for Discovery (TCFD) is a leading provider of healthcare and education services for more than 1,200 children and adults with complex conditions, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders, located 90 miles northwest of New York City. Named a Center of Excellence in 2016, TCFD has long been a leader in developing new models of care for individuals with complex conditions. On 1,500 acres of land in Sullivan County, TCFD houses school campuses, residences, medical and research facilities, organic and biodynamic farmland, and leased private businesses. Deeply focused on an individual's personal potential and possibilities, rather than a disability, TCFD strives to create better care and unique and challenging opportunities for the most vulnerable populations. For more information about TCFD, please visit https://thecenterfordiscovery.org/.

For more information: Michael Rosen | [email protected].

SOURCE The Center for Discovery