SALAMANCA, NY – Seneca Nation executives held an official groundbreaking ceremony for the highly anticipated Lionel R. John Health Center (LRJHC) Improvement Project. The project will expand community health services for the Seneca Nation Health System. The project is a combination of renovations totaling approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of existing space and approximately 20,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art new space.
“This important investment will provide expanded access to care and needed services, which is a glaring need in Native communities across Indian Country,” said Seneca Nation President J. Conrad Seneca. “Caring for our people and improving the quality of life on our territories is our responsibility as Seneca Nation leaders, and foundational to our efforts to build a stronger, healthier Seneca community for our current and future generations. We are excited to expand this vital community resource to better meet the needs of our people.”
A three-story addition located at the northeast corner of the current facility is planned to include a dental expansion and to house the administration and finance departments. The medical department will expand into the present-day courtyard, allowing for the addition of multiple exam rooms, as well as ultrasound and support services. A small addition near the front entrance will expand the pharmacy space and include a drive-thru window.
Health campus improvements include additional parking, repaving of the existing main parking lot, and addressing grading and drainage issues. The parking lot upgrades will accommodate new drive lanes and aid in maintaining adequate parking.
Eight prescription workstations, offices, a consultation room and storage, along with a dedicated pharmacy waiting area, will occupy the current finance area, including an updated mail room, telehealth room, and lactation room. The patient registration area will be renovated along with the former pharmacy space to become a new immunization room, registration suite, and re-organized nurse work room including patient benefit offices and referral clerks.
The dental suite will be renovated and expanded into the new addition, adding six operatories, a laboratory, reception area and other ancillary offices. The engineering and IT offices will also be expanded. The finance department will be relocated to the second floor of the addition and include private offices, secure file storage and copy/shredding rooms to meet current and future space needs.
The $30 million dollar construction budget was funded through a combination of Indian Health Services grants, Seneca Nation ARPA funds and Health System reserves.
Construction is planned to be completed in early 2027. The project will be divided into three phases to minimize impact on patient services and to keep departments open and fully operational throughout construction. The project is managed by the Seneca Nation Capital Improvement Authority and the Health System’s Senior Civil Engineer.