BARRYVILLE – Local officials, healthcare professionals and residents gathered for an open house at the new (old) Highland Health Initiative, located in the former Dr. Daboul office on Route 97 in Barryville. 

Dr. Chris Dickey, an Assistant Professor at the NYU School of Global Public Health and Barryville resident, and Town of Highland Supervisor John Pizzolato are working together to open a community health model—and are asking for the public’s input.

A sizeable crowd turned out to the open house on Thursday afternoon, voicing their concerns about current health systems in the region and expressing their hopes for what the new health facility could be. 

One resident asked if the proposed project would be a substitute for a primary care provider.

“In rural communities like ours, we can’t afford having a full-time primary care physician’s office,” Dickey answered. “So we have to be very creative about solutions.” 

He said the idea is to have primary care physicians, specialists, physician assistants, community health workers, EMTs and more on site, but that it may not be a full-time situation. 

Another person asked about health insurance, and whether or not the facility will accept it. 

Dickey and other representatives responded that they are working on that, and will also have to work with each provider on accepting insurance, which may take a year or longer. 

In order to get the facility up and running, they first wanted to hear from the community on what their needs are. Next, they will renovate the building, which is expected to begin in the next one to two weeks and is funded by a $100,000 grant from Assemblymember Paula Kay. 

Kay, who was at the open house, said, “One of the things that I hear every single day when I’m in the district is we are so lacking in healthcare, especially in the western part of [Sullivan County]. So for all of you to put this together, to find a solution to the problem and do something here in Barryville, is incredible.”

Also attending were Sullivan County Legislator Matt McPhillips, whose district includes the Town of Highland, and Legislator Cat Scott, who is the Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee.

“When you came to us with this idea, we both said, ‘anything we can do to help’,” McPhillips said. “And I want to continue with that.” 

Supervisor Pizzolato emphasized that no taxpayer money is going to the project, as it is being funded through grants, like the one from Assemblymember Kay, and a grant through Sullivan 180, who will be a partner. 

Others involved in the initiative include the nursing director from SUNY Sullivan, the Highland Ambulance Corps, and Dickey’s colleagues… They noted that they also will work with volunteers. 

“We want to meet people where they’re at,” Pizzolato said. “It’s a rare opportunity for a small community like ours to have all of these medical groups coming in and participating. It involves a lot of coordination, so it’s not going to be flip the switch and it’s ready to go on the first day.”