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Nappi Wellness Institute: Improving Healthcare Outcomes for Vulnerable Populations in an Accessible, Supportive Environment BY DANIEL K. BRANTLEY UPSTATE UNIVERSIT Y HOSPITAL'S SOON-TO-OPEN NAPPI WELLNESS INSTITUTE INTRODUCES A NE W ER A OF HE ALTH CARE WITH A SUITE OF PATIENT-CENTERED AMBUL ATORY SERVICES AND PROVIDER BENEFITS IN ONE LOCATION. A N I N C R E A S I N G A M O U N T of dat a indicates an imperative need to improve healthcare equity for vulnerable patient populations — an issue that's been evi- dent for years — and hospita l systems across the country are attempting to level the field. With a $70 million grant from the New York Depa r tment of Hea lth, a $75 million bonding oppor tunity to match funds, and an $8 million naming gif t, Upstate University Hospita l has been working on a solution, a nd that work is about to come to fruition. Scheduled to open in early 2023, the Upstate Nappi Wellness Institute is a five-story, 200,000-square-foot outpa- tient facility that will integrate multiple primar y and specia lty hea lth ser vices and a bev y of unique amenities under one roof. The new Institute is expected to remove many of the barriers that send patients to the hospital instead of getting timely, appropriate care in the lowest acuity setting. A s the new Institute gets under way, Ups t at e Un iversit y Hospit a l a nt ici- pates fewer u n necessa r y emergenc y v isits a nd inpatient stays, u ltimately leading to more cost-ef fective hea lth- ca re del iver y a nd i mproved qu a l it y o f l i f e f o r v u l n e r a b l e c o m m u n i t y r e s i d e nt s . C om bi n e d , t h e b e n e f it s of fe r e d m e e t t h e q u a l i f i c a t ion s of t he s t at e's Del iver y S y s t em R efor m Incentive Pay ment (DSR IP) prog ra m, a n i n it iat ive a i med at rest r uct u r i n g Medica id's hea lthca re deliver y system a nd reducing unnecessa r y hospita l use by 25% over f ive yea rs. " T h e C O V I D -1 9 p a n d e m i c c a t - a ly z e d a t r a n s for m a t ion i n h e a lt h ca re t hat wa s ta l ked about for a long t i me but on ly dabbled i n ," says A my T ucker, M D, M HCM , Ch ief Med ica l Off icer at Upstate Universit y Hospita l. " For tunately, we're a head of the cur ve w ith the Institute, which introduces a new model of ca re focused on wellness." BUILT FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH An integrated model of care guided the design and construction of the Nappi Wellness Institute. And following the WELL Building Standard, the Institute's design and layout will promote the good health of patients, visitors, clinicians and staff alike. " We wanted to change what people perceive as health care to be proactive and focused on wellness," says Marylin Ga limi, Chief Operations Of f icer at Upstate University Hospital. "We didn't want another facility with clinics where you simply come in a nd wa it for a n appointment. We wanted to build some- thing that represented the idea of caring for your body and your family." W ELL Building Standards include the following: + Air: The Institute features filters that circulate 100% of outside air throughout the building. The area shown under construction will transform into a light and bright reception area. 0 6 ❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R S T O R Y