September 2018
Rural Matters
Table of Contents
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EventBriteEvent Invitation - Rural Hospitals in New York State: Challenges and Opportunities
Rural Health Network will be hosting a presentation on "Rural Hospitals in New York State: Challenges and Opportunities".  The program is free of charge (registration is required) and is being held Thursday, September 20 at 2:00 PM. at SUNY Upstate Clinical Campus located at Greater Binghamton Health Center, 425 Robinson Street, Binghamton, NY 13904. 

The presenters are Karen Roach, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs and Rural Health, Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), and Jim Clancy, Senior Vice President, State Policy, HANYS.  

The presenters are looking forward to an interactive program and will be encouraging questions, comments, and dialog with audience members. State and national trends for rural hospitals and policy issues will be covered. A key question explored in the presentation will be:

John (Jack) C. Salo
Executive Director
"In a rapidly changing healthcare environment, how do rural hospitals remain relevant and viable in providing access to critical healthcare services for rural residents?"

Executive Director Jack Salo said: "The presentation will be of interest to anyone who cares about rural hospitals and ensuring access to healthcare in rural New York State. I invite my colleagues and our partners to join us next Thursday. Please pre-register by Tuesday, September 18th. "

  
shaneOur Team Continues to Grow
Getthere continues to grow with the addition of two Mobility and Transportation Advocates this month. 

Kara Fisher, Mobility &
Transportation Advocate
Kara Fisher grew up in Buffalo, New York and has always had a passion for helping others and making a difference. After graduating from Gannon University with a Bachelor's degree in Health Science, she continued her education at Binghamton University earning a Masters in Public Administration.
 
Kara has volunteered with a variety of organizations that serve individuals with disabilities and senior citizens in which she learned about the challenges these populations face. In her role at Getthere, Kara hopes to use her educational and volunteer background to help serve the community.

Stephanie Button, Mobility & Transportation Advocate

Stephanie Button graduated from Blue Ridge School District in 2013. She has always wanted a fulfilling job where she could have an impact on the lives of other people. After her mom became sick in 2012, she experienced firsthand the dire need for people in rural communities to have access to medical care. Before joining the Getthere Call Center,  Stephanie worked with the elderly at Gracious Living Estates in Montrose, PA. She also worked at Black Bear Winery in Chenango Forks, NY where she enjoyed conducting wine tastings and meeting new people. Stephanie said "I'm very excited to join the Rural Health Network's Getthere team". 

When she's not at work, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her fiance, their two children, and their dog.
This fall, RHNSCNY's team of Peer Leaders will offer the Stanford Living Healthy Chronic Disease Self-Management Program to Tioga County residents.

Living Healthy: Chronic Disease Self Management Program will be offered at Tioga Opportunities Incorporated located at  9 Sheldon Guile Boulevard in Owego. 

If you are an adult with an ongoing health condition or are caring for anyone of any age who has a chronic concern, please join us on six consecutive Thursdays from  October 11 through November 15 from  9-11:30 AM. These free classes will offer helpful tips for dealing with pain or fatigue, getting better sleep, discussing health issues with your medical team and family, making more nutritious food choices and engaging in moderate physical activity for mind and body.  Learn how to set simple goals for improving your health and well being and managing life stress.  

Pre- register and receive a free book and relaxation CD.  Contact Pamela Guth at 607 692-7669 or email  [email protected].  

This opportunity is made possible with support from Care Compass Network and the Tioga County Senior Citizen's Foundation.
Applications for full- and part-time AmeriCorps positions are now  OPEN! Some of our available positions include serving with STAP, Rural Health Network, CASA-Trinity, Healthy Lifestyles Coalition, VINES, and our brand new Farm-to-School Corps, run through the Food and Health Network of South Central New York. This year, all positions will focus on health education (including nutrition); we're very excited to welcome in a new group of members. 

If you or anyone you know is interested in spending a year or less serving your community through local not-for-profits,  please visit our website for more details on how to get involved. 
VISTA logo  AmeriCorps logo
websiteGetthere Website Launching This Month
After a long development process, the Getthere website and Trip Planning tool will launch late this month.  We've asked key partners from our mobility management Advisory Committee to review the site so we can address issues before sharing the web address publicly.  We were encouraged to receive this feedback:

"The website actually helped me with solving a problem already!!! I was struggling with setting up transportation for a patient. Because almost all the Medivans do not start transporting patients till 8am and his surgery was at 5:15. And because of this website I was able to see what ones had different hours!!!! Amazing....  "

We look forward to sharing the new site with everyone soon.
intern
Heather Patrick

Heather Patrick is a  BS Human Development and pre-medicine senior undergrad from Binghamton University. She is interning with Community Health Services this fall. Her main reasons for choosing an intern position at Rural Health Network include the opportunity to analyze the healthcare system through a lens of social justice and human rights as well as analyzing barriers to healthcare that exist for rural individuals. Goal two involves obtaining hands on experience assisting rural clients as they maneuver the New York healthcare system. Heather said "As a future physician, I am very grateful and joyful for this internship experience through Rural Health Network, where extremely valuable experience with the healthcare system and rural clients can be obtained."
NRHD


Rural Health Network is proud to partner with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health and others to celebrate National Rural Health Day on the third Thursday of November.  Read More about National Rural Health Day and how you can support it.
job
Employment Opportunity
Seeking Customer Service Associate
Rural Health Network is accepting applications for a full time Customer Service Associate (CSA). The CSA will provide excellent customer service for both external and internal customers. The CSA is the initial point of most public contact via telephone or walk-ins. Additional duties include purchasing office supplies and acting as point of contact for I.T. contractor. Responsibilities may increase or become more specialized depending on performance and skills. Candidate must demonstrate excellence in customer service, good organizational and problem solving skills and ability to support a wide range of agency and program activities. 

Application Deadline: September 18, 2018 or until position is filled. 

Please share the online application link with anyone who may be interested. 


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Advancing the health and well-being of rural people and communities.