Expected to break ground soon on Center Street
From Jones Memorial Hospital, pictured is a rendering of new healthcare offices
On September 29, 2026, Jones Memorial Hospital hosted a community town hall at The Palmer Opera House to present the plans for the new medical office building that will be coming to Cuba in 2027 and answer questions from the community.
Jim Helms, CEO, thanked community members as well as key individuals for their help in bringing the project to life – Wayne Butts from the Volunteer Fire Department, Lee James, Cuba Town Supervisor – and welcomed Bill Robinson, CEO of Cuba Memorial Hospital who is a key partner for Jones in this endeavor.
The new primary care office on Center St in Cuba will break ground in October of this year and will be a 4,400 square foot facility with 6 exam rooms and 1 treatment room and will employ 1 MD, an advanced practice provider and 6 medical support staff. The practice expects to see up to 40 patients/day and will initially focus on family medicine and obstetrics. The facility will be placed on 1.93 acres which was purchased from the fire department on Center St., allowing for additional expansion of the medical center in the future. The new office expects to begin seeing patients starting June 30, 2027.
Jim Helms, CEO at Jones Memorial emphasized, “This is about access to primary care for our community. Access to primary care is critical to the overall wellbeing of our patients, family and neighbors. Primary care must be available where people live.”
Carrie Walker, Vice President of Professional Services, went on to discuss the details of the space, noting that the facility will have the look and feel of the new medical suites at Jones Memorial Hospital and should feel like home to anyone familiar with these spaces, as well as to the new staff. The new space will be an Article 28 compliant space, ensuring ADA and fire safety compliance, as well as a certified Rural Health Clinic and Primary Care Medical Home.
Finally, Ms. Walker emphasized that this new space will draw on the patient experience and quality concerns of other primary care spaces, ensuring that patient privacy is of the utmost importance. There will be a private check-out area, private check-in and exam rooms on the periphery of the building, allowing for greater privacy while rooming with your provider.
At the end of the presentation, Mr. Helms and Ms. Walker answered follow-up questions regarding the project. The leadership team explained to the community that Jones is working with Cuba Memorial Hospital as a partner and is not replacing any services. Cuba Memorial and Jones are both part of the EPIC electronic medical record system and all records will transfer between the two facilities, for better patient care and experience. Furthermore, patients can get their labs and imaging done at a location convenient to them. Patients visiting the new Jones Primary Care are not required to travel to Wellsville for lab work.
Community members asked additional questions surrounding the Emergency Department at Jones and how capacity was being addressed. Jones has added a second CT scanner, and is the only hospital in the region to offer two CT scanners, improving workflow and capacity within the ED. There are additional plans in the works to expand the Emergency Room within the next two years.
Others requested additional specialists in the region. Mr. Helms addressed this concern, stating that Jones works strategically with other affiliate partners to bring specialists that are most in need to the regions to reduce driving times for our patients. Jones is committed to continuously reviewing needs for additional specialties as we continue to grow and our patients’ needs change and evolve.
Also in attendance was State Assemblyman, Joe Sempolinski, who gave his support, stating that this is a very positive advancement for this community, addressing healthcare deserts in our region.
For more information on the new Cuba Primary Care, please visit jones.urmc.edu.
About Jones Memorial Hospital
Jones Memorial Hospital, an affiliate of University of Rochester Medicine and a CMS 4-star quality rated facility, is a 49-bed acute care hospital serving all of Allegany County and the surrounding region. It is the largest provider of healthcare in Allegany County and one of the largest employers in the Southern Tier. It includes the hospital, primary care and specialty outpatient care facilities, an urgent care, and rehabilitation services. Jones is also home to the NCI-designated Wilmot Cancer Institute. Jones is accredited by the Joint Commission and is an NRHA Top 20 Rural and Community Hospital for 2026. Jones was also listed on the Forbes Top Hospitals for 2026.
Learn more at jones.urmc.edu
