The Chautauqua County Health Network (CCHN) commenced operations on August 1, 1995 sponsored by the four hospitals in Chautauqua County: Brooks Memorial Hospital, TLC Health Network, Westfield Memorial Hospital and WCA Hospital. Start-up grants were also received from the Sheldon Foundation, the Gebbie Foundation, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and Lake Shore Savings & Loan. The hospitals recognized that by working together on selected projects they could have a positive effect on the quality of health care services available to patients.
Subsequent to the formation of CCHN, the New York State Legislature created the Office of Rural Health, a program under the Health Care Reform Act to provide support for rural health networks. With this initiative, CCHN was recognized as one of the charter rural health networks in the state. A board of directors was established with each participating hospitals’ CEO, Vice President of Medical Affairs, and a trustee as board members. CCHN was incorporated in 1998 and gained its charitable organization status in 2000.
Since an initial two-year local investment of $322,500, the CCHN has operated on grants from the Office of Rural Health and other agencies. To date, CCHN has received over $1.6 million from the Office of Rural Health and manages funds for the Chautauqua Integrated Delivery System, which have amounted to over $2.7 million in its seven years of business. The majority of these funds have been reinvested in the community to improve access to insurance coverage, primary care and oral health services, address health care quality, contribute to cost effectiveness and provider viability in Chautauqua County, strengthen the four hospitals through collaborative service delivery system enhancements, develop the local health care workforce, improve health status and expand disease prevention efforts.
CCHN’s Board of Directors continues to develop new mechanisms to achieve its goals and objectives. While some of these efforts may evolve into separate incorporated companies, the CCHN remains a not-for-profit organization dedicatedto serving the community.
The Chautauqua County Health Network (CCHN) commenced operations on August 1, 1995 sponsored by the four hospitals in Chautauqua County: Brooks Memorial Hospital, TLC Health Network, Westfield Memorial Hospital and WCA Hospital. Start-up grants were also received from the Sheldon Foundation, the Gebbie Foundation, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation and Lake Shore Savings & Loan. The hospitals recognized that by working together on selected projects they could have a positive effect on the quality of health care services available to patients.
Subsequent to the formation of CCHN, the New York State Legislature created the Office of Rural Health, a program under the Health Care Reform Act to provide support for rural health networks. With this initiative, CCHN was recognized as one of the charter rural health networks in the state. A board of directors was established with each participating hospitals’ CEO, Vice President of Medical Affairs, and a trustee as board members. CCHN was incorporated in 1998 and gained its charitable organization status in 2000.
Since an initial two-year local investment of $322,500, the CCHN has operated on grants from the Office of Rural Health and other agencies. To date, CCHN has received over $1.6 million from the Office of Rural Health and manages funds for the Chautauqua Integrated Delivery System, which have amounted to over $2.7 million in its seven years of business. The majority of these funds have been reinvested in the community to improve access to insurance coverage, primary care and oral health services, address health care quality, contribute to cost effectiveness and provider viability in Chautauqua County, strengthen the four hospitals through collaborative service delivery system enhancements, develop the local health care workforce, improve health status and expand disease prevention efforts.
CCHN’s Board of Directors continues to develop new mechanisms to achieve its goals and objectives. While some of these efforts may evolve into separate incorporated companies, the CCHN remains a not-for-profit organization dedicatedto serving the community.