As we approach the end of 2019 and the beginning of a new decade, I'd like to acknowledge and thank the Board of Directors, staff, partners volunteers and donors who made it possible for Rural Health Network to accomplish the following in 2019

* Completion of a new Strategic Plan for 2020-2022

*Initiating a Capital Campaign for the purchase and renovation of the 455 Court Street, Binghamton facility


* Getthere services to 4,000 transportation assistance cases in 2019.

* Getthere - Connection to Care financial assistance and transportation arrangements for more than 1,400 cases to help individuals get to their medical appointments or other essential health-related services.

* Completion of Tioga Tells, a Quality of Life Assessment in Tioga County, Led by AmeriCorps - VISTA Member, Deanna Baker (Hutchison).

* Enrollment of eight members in the AmeriCorps ViSTA program to help organizations throughout the region develop capacity to meet critical health needs.

* Community Health Workers conducted outreach and engagement in support of 1,286 Medicaid members in Broome, Tioga, and Delaware Counties; provided support to 1,600 Medicaid members served through five Care Compass Network Cohort Projects; and assisted 57 Medicaid members with care transition post discharge from Delaware Valley Hospital.

*Food and Health Network partnered with two BOCES systems to support Farm to School initiatives in 26 school districts, impacting 32,699 students and resulting in $449,899 spent on NYS produced food.

*The Prescription Fruit and Vegetable Program served 240 participants and their families who were referred through 11 primary care clinics. Participants were able to obtain $86,400 worth of fresh local foods from 31 participating shopping locations.

*The two year Social Determinant Measurement Project is on target with all project tasks including design of social determinant measurements for eight Care Compass Network Cohort projects.

*Northern Broome CARES, an innovative community development project supporting older residents aging in place, will launch in 2020 serving residents in the towns of Lisle and Triangle in Northern Broome County. The project is a partnership with Broome County Office for Aging, Lourdes Hospital, Whitney Point Central School, Binghamton University and others. Northern Broome CARES is funded with resources provided by the Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities grant through NYS Office for Aging with additional support from the Broome County Small Communities Fund.

Thank you to all who have made it possible for Rural Health Network to advance the health and well-being of rural people and communities in 2019. Happy Holidays!

Jack Salo

Executive Director

Building rendering provided by  Chianis & Anderson Architects, PLLC

We're excited to share that as of  yesterday, we have contributions or pledges totaling $280,907, 

53.5 % of our campaign goal. 

We invite you to learn more and join in supporting our campaign vision. 

Highlights and Learning from Year 1 of the Social Determinants Measurement Project

We are wrapping up Year 1 of our two-year initiative to improve the measurement of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) among community-based organizations, funded by the NYS Health Foundation and Care Compass Network. Activities included assessing current measurement designs, testing new ROI-focused measurement, and providing support to small and rural CBOs in the value-based payment environment.

Notable achievements

• Eight benchmark return-on-investment calculations completed for social determinants interventions currently in use by the Care Compass Network cohort management program
• Five filmed interviews with CBO leaders finished, with the intent to inform and support other CBO leaders in the transitions to come
• SDOH measurement capacity assessments for Rural Health Network, Tioga Opportunities, and Mothers & Babies Perinatal Network, resulting in the following broad recommendations:
  • Gather existing grant- and funder-specific data into agency-wide information
  • Use guiding questions to determine the impact on the people served: Was their immediate need met? Were any long-term needs met? Did the person's health improve? Did their use of the health system and associated costs improve?
  • Know which metrics are relevant to payers and healthcare systems depending on which population you are working with

In 2020, we will calculate actual return on the cohort projects, continue strengthening our internal data processes, and produce additional CBO-oriented content for the transition to value-based payment. 

To learn more about these activities and the RHN Social Determinants Measurement project, please contact  Emma Nalin , Project Coordinator. 

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is seeking applicants for their Culture of Health Leadership program. Leaders work from their current position to help their community in every way possible. Current leaders come from fields as diverse as architecture, education, urban farming, the arts, and many others. The program is looking for even broader representation from every field and profession across the private, public, nonprofit, and social enterprise sectors.

The next application cycle opens on January 10, 2020. Learn More