The Chautauqua County Health Network (CCHN) recently received notice from the New York State Department of Health that the local organization will receive a grant of $233,180 under the Rural Health Network Development Program and an additional award of $120,000 under the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers (HEAL NY). Funding for the Rural Health Network Development Program supports rural providers in improving access to care, enhancing coordination of services, increasing efficiency of service delivery and introducing needed community services. HEAL NY funding will support local and regional planning activities aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness of community health care systems.
CCHN uses its funding from the Office of Rural Health to provide both community programs and health care system support. The Get Covered Helpline, a toll free number that links people to information about health care coverage options, and the Health Care Proxy Registry, a secure website that contains proxies accessible by health care providers, are two examples of services available to community members. At the health care system level, CCHN is addressing quality improvement in a number of ways. This includes introducing best practice models and promoting the expanded use of health information technology by local medical practices. Additionally, a variety of projects are underway to increase the number of health care personnel trained and practicing in Chautauqua County.
According to Dr. Marlene Garone, Chair of the Board of Directors, “CCHN continues to provide leadership in achieving creative solutions to community needs with an eye on maintaining access to the high quality health care here in Chautauqua County. These grants support the necessary data collection and analysis, facilitation and education, and resource development to help us ensure there is a coordinated system that meets the needs of consumers as well as providers.”
HEAL NY funding will allow CCHN to acquire the Community Health Data System, a health data collection platform developed by HMS Associates. Using this system to analyze varieties of data, CCHN will produce an assessment outlining health status and health service priorities. This process will occur in partnership with the local health department and hospitals as they complete Community Health Assessment and Community Services Plans. Additionally, the planning process will include developing a vision for the future of primary care service delivery and establishing a structure for assessing long-term care needs in the community. CCHN will also be working closely with the P2 Collaborative of WNY that received funding to develop regional planning strategies.
“Funding for health planning is critical to sustaining and effectively shaping the health care system in rural communities,” stated Ann Morse Abdella, Executive Director of CCHN. “Using local data and community input to determine gaps in current service provision and inform future development within health care has never been more important as we face these tough economic times. CCHN is uniquely positioned to facilitate this level of analysis and make recommendations to its partners.”
CCHN was formed in 1995 and is an organization comprised of the four hospitals in Chautauqua County, their governing boards and medical staffs, and is dedicated to strengthening the local health and wellness delivery system. CCHN advances the interests of hospitals and patients by strengthening the economic viability of hospitals, promoting access to quality health care related services, facilitating partnerships to address community needs, planning for the efficient delivery of care, and developing appropriate health resources.
To learn more about CCHN’s activities, visit the website at
www.cchn.net. If you are interested in becoming involved in one of their initiatives or have questions, contact the office at 664-8445 or e-mail
cchealthnetwork@gmail.com.