Health Quest Administrative Offices Relocate to LaGrange

The parent corporation of Putnam Hospital Center, Vassar Brothers Hospital, in Poughkeepsie, and Northern Dutchess Hospital, in Rhinebeck, will be relocating its administrative offices this month to a new complex in LaGrange.

Michael Weber, President and CEO of Health Quest, announced the signing of a lease this week with the Taconic Crossing Medical Building for 50,000 square feet of office space that will house Health Quest’s business office, finance department, legal services, and compliance office.

In an interview with the Courier, Weber, who formerly served as President and CEO of Putnam Hospital Center before turning the reins over to Donna McGregor, said Health Quest decided to relocate its corporate offices from Poughkeepsie to Route 55 and the Taconic State Parkway, because of its central location: “LaGrange is at the mid-point for the three medical centers that comprise Health Quest. Secondly, the new complex will bring together our 300 employees who are scattered around the region.” Currently Health Quest occupies six separate locations.

Finally, Weber said a decision was made to relocate due to the planned construction later this year on the Vassar Brothers Medical Center campus, where a significant building project resulting in the construction of a new ambulatory surgery center will take place. Weber said the new office complex LaGrange was being renovated with planned move to the ground floor within the next week to 10 days.

By the end of March, the relocation will be completed.

Weber smiled when he remembered his days at Putnam Hospital Center when plans were first conceived to the facility and create an ambulatory surgery center, additional parking, modern physician’s offices and finally the Camarda Care Cancer Center. “Staff and facilities moved over and over again until the final product was achieved, which has become a highly recognized and professional organization serving the medical needs of Putnam County as well as sections of northern Westchester, southern Dutchess, and western Connecticut.”

Weber was also asked about the hospital’s financial condition since many medical centers across the U.S. have been operating in the red.

Weber replied that the three hospitals operating under the Health Quest umbrella had done well financially 2009, with “operating margins of anywhere from three percent to six percent. In this economy and our market, this quite an achievement that we are very proud of. Many challenges lie ahead year, as do opportunities, but entering 2010 strong financially and by providing outstanding quality health care will result in another outstanding 12 months for residents of Putnam County vicinity.”