Giving Rye: Meet the Open Door Family Medical Center
Giving Rye is a feature series highlighting non-profits and community groups in and around the City of Rye. Today meet Lindsay Farrell of the Open Door Family Medical Center.
Your Name: Lindsay Farrell
Organization: Open Door Family Medical Center
Your role: President and CEO
MyRye.com: Tell us your organization’s mission.
Farrell: Open Door Family Medical Center provides excellent, accessible, and personalized health care regardless of ability to pay to build healthier families and communities. We drive health equity and build thriving communities through quality, affordable, personalized care.
How long have you operated in Rye?
Farrell: Open Door Family Medical Center was founded in 1972 in Ossining. In 1995, we opened a site in Rye Brook before moving to Port Chester in 2006 where we own and operate a large health center. In 2005 we opened our first School-Based Health Center (SBHC) in Kennedy Magnet and Edison Elementary Schools. We have since expanded our SBHC to include Park Avenue Elementary School, the Port Chester Middle School, and the Port Chester High School. In 2015 we initiated a new Mobile Dental Van program for the Port Chester SBHC.
What programming or work in Rye is the organization best known for?
Farrell: Open Door Port Chester builds healthier communities by providing a full range of medical services for our patients including primary medical care, dental care, behavioral health services, women’s health and specialty services.
- Medical Care. Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Certified Nurse Midwives provide family medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecological care.
- Dental Care and dental residency. Our dental team provides a full range of dental care services and works with patients to keep their mouth, teeth, and gums healthy as part of our comprehensive care. The General Dental Practice Residency Program, in partnership with New York Medical / Touro College of Dental Medicine, provides a wide range of experience, including training in children’s dentistry, surgery, anesthesiology, and more.
- Behavioral health. At Open Door, we recognize that a healthy mind is as important as a healthy body. Sound mental health allows people to think, feel, act and interact in positive ways.
- Care coordination and patient advocacy. We are committed to helping our patients learn the skills and access the resources necessary to follow their medical treatment plans and ultimately maximize their health outcomes.
Looking forward to 2025, what will be your top initiatives?
Farrell: As we look to 2025 with an incoming President and new administration, we remain focused on delivering excellent health care services as we have been doing for a half century. Open Door is committed to improving health outcomes, preventing and managing chronic disease, and reducing health disparities.
- Improved Accessibility: Through increased efficiencies in scheduling and workflow, as well as dedicated outreach to enhance patients use of our patient portal, we are increasing patient access to care.
- Addressing workforce challenges: To address the workforce challenges all health care providers are facing, Open Door has pursued educational and community partnerships.
Tell us about the population you serve and how they can get involved with your programming and services.
Farrell: We provide top-notch health care services to families with low incomes. About 43% of Open Door patients are uninsured, and the majority live at or below the federal poverty level, which is $31,200 for a family of four, according to 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines. Our Patient Navigators help new patients sign up for insurance and our Care Coordinators and Patient Navigators help patients to find the right care and access resources to help them follow their recommended course of care.
Are you a 501(c)(3) non-profit with tax exempt status?
Farrell: Yes
Looking back across 2024, what were your organization’s top achievements?
Farrell: Primary care in this country is evolving with new models of delivery including telehealth and other technologies to support clinicians. Open Door is proud of our accomplishments in the challenging health care landscape, including external recognition of high quality care delivery.
- The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Recognition: Open Door has again achieved the NCQA Recognition for Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Distinction in Behavioral Health at all six of our health centers. This external recognition indicates that Open Door provides excellent health care as determined by key clinical metrics and patient outcomes.
- Optimizing access and efficiency. Open Door has worked to improve the patient experience at each of our six health centers. We’ve also focused on educating patients about the benefits of the patient portal. It eases appointment making and permits direct communication with members of the care team.
How can local residents support your organization?
Farrell: Community members can support the Open Door Foundation which raises funds that benefit the Open Door Family Medical Center and local community health initiatives, including our expanded wellness services and patient advocacy. There are also numerous volunteer opportunities including food distribution, baby bundle program, reach out and read and our holiday helpers.
What local Rye residents and area businesses have been the longest, steadiest supporters of your organization?
Farrell: Jamie Jensen has been a long-time supporter, serving first on the Open Door Foundation Board before serving as its Board Chair for four years, beginning 2020 at the height of the pandemic. Dan Ross, our current Open Door Family Medical Center Board chair is another longtime supporter and previously served on the Open Door Foundation Board. Margoth Pilla currently serves as our Open Door Family Medical Center Treasurer. Kim O’Connor, long-time community partner, joined the Foundation Board earlier this year. Rye Presbyterian Church has been a steady supporter and partner for multiple decades. Nita Lowey has long been a champion for Open Door, and we were honored to rename our School Based Health Centers after her in recognition of securing our initial funding and ongoing support.
Tell us about you:
How long have you been in your current role?
Farrell: I have served as Open Door’s President and CEO for over 25 years having been appointed when Margaret Greismer, our Founding Executive Director retired. I came to Open Door 40 years ago as a volunteer, driving local people to their doctors’ appointments with my toddler in her car seat. My first paid role was as the Development Director a few years later.
Is the role full time or part time? Paid or volunteer?
Farrell: This role is a full-time, paid position.
How would your friends and family describe you in one word?
Farrell: Energetic.
Where did you grow up?
Farrell: I grew up in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, on Philadelphia’s Main line.
What is your favorite unimportant thing about you?
Farrell: I’m a member of Team USA, proud to represent the United States by competing in World Triathlon Championships.
If the next five years is a chapter in your life, what is this chapter about?
Farrell: Being a grandmother! My granddaughter is about to have her first birthday.
What would you do if you were not afraid?
Farrell: I’m not exactly fearful at this stage of my life—maybe because I went to an all girls’ school! And with so many years at Open Door, I feel like I’ve seen it all.
Where do you live in Rye and how many years have you lived in the City?
Farrell: I live in Ossining and have lived there for 40 years—but I do have a personal connection to Rye because I am a member of the Rye Tri; it’s my Triathlon Club and where I get to train and hang with other triathletes.
Thanks Lindsay!
Learn more:
New patients: Contact [email protected] or 914-OD-CARES (914-632-2737)
