By Aaron Retherford
Last Thursday, longtime Barre doctor, Mark Yorra, MD, finally cut the ribbon on his new clinic, commemorating his partnership with UVM Health Network—Central Vermont Medical Center.
Located on the fourth floor in the newly-renovated Blanchard Block Building, the Granite City Primary Care office features six examination rooms and arguably some of the best views in the city. Yorra also believed it was a longtime coming.
“I’ve always felt a commitment to continue a primary care presence in downtown Barre. I think that’s really important,” Yorra, who has been practicing medicine in Barre since 1980, said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I’m just really excited, thrilled, gratified that we’ll be a primary care presence in downtown Barre forever. Thank you for making this possible. It’s a great space, and I think it’s a great commitment to the community.”
The project went from open space to completion in only seven and a half weeks. Yorra had patients on the first day it was open.
Those who took a tour of the clinic last Thursday were truly impressed with the transformation.
“It’s great having this practice here. Just walking through this tour and seeing the amazing reclamation of this building and all its architectural beauty,” Michael Dellipriscoli, UVMHN-CVMC Board of Trustees, Vice Chair, said. “It’s great that we have this really beautiful office space and your talented staff working for CVMC and now being part of the bigger University of Vermont Health Network. We’re trying to really change healthcare in the state of Vermont.”
Madelyn Hamilton, NP, who has worked with Yorra for 11 years, will continue to work alongside him.
The expanded location allows for Granite City Primary Care to have up to three full-time providers.
CVMC plans on adding complimentary services and programs to aid downtown residents such as: a free shuttle service, access to the community health team that assists with care coordination, as well as access to mental health and nutritional counselors.