Innovative Healthcare Solutions in Rochester Post-COVID-19
Michael Mendoza, M.D., formerly the Monroe County commissioner of public health, highlights persistent health challenges in the Rochester area post-COVID-19. Key issues such as cardiovascular health, maternal and child wellness, immunizations, and blood pressure management continue to demand attention. Disparities in blood pressure control among racial groups are identified as particularly concerning.
Dr. Mendoza is now the senior medical director at Town Square Health, which plans to open its first healthcare facility in Rochester around September. The center will focus on Medicare patients, including senior citizens and certain younger individuals with disabilities. Located near Westfall and Clinton in Brighton, the region is already frequented for medical services.
Town Square Health employs a value-based multispecialty model called Primary Care 3.0, emphasizing patient outcomes over the traditional fee-for-service approach. CEO David Buchanan notes this model encourages comprehensive patient interaction because compensation is tied to health improvements. Rochester was chosen as the launch site due to its high Medicare Advantage enrollment and the potential to address fragmented care and significant physician burnout.
Buchanan, with a background in leadership roles at Oak Street Health and CVS Health, established Town Square Health in 2025. The company aims to address care coordination challenges that older adults face, such as transportation and complex appointment schedules. A novel aspect of the health center is its use of AI technology to reduce administrative tasks for physicians, allowing them more time to focus on patients.
However, the adoption of value-based care raises questions about cost control strategies potentially impacting care quality. While some express concern about potential constraints on necessary referrals or tests, Buchanan insists the model aligns patient outcomes with investor returns sustainably. The company plans to announce its Seed Round funding in Fall 2026.
Sahar Elezabi, M.D., president of the Monroe County Medical Society, recognizes this approach as an innovative addition to Rochester. She notes it might provide much-needed diversity of care options amidst rising healthcare costs and reduced private practice viability. Town Square Health's expansion strategy foresees multiple centers opening in Western New York over the next decade, aiming to address the growing demand for primary care services.