NYSARH
NYS Association for Rural Health Appoints Liz Urbanski-Farrell as its First Employed Executive Director, Marking a New Era for Rural Health in New York
Historic Appointment Signals Enhanced Leadership and Commitment to Rural Health (Albany, N.Y.) — The New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) proudly announces the appointment of Liz Urbanski-Farrell, MBA, MS, as its first employed Executive Director. This landmark hiring marks a pivotal transition from a volunteer-driven organization to one poised for even greater impact under experienced leadership. Liz Urbanski-Farrell brings a wealth of expertise in health care management, policy, and leadership, having earned dual master’s degrees in healthcare leadership and healthcare research and policy from Cornell University. Her diverse experience spans various roles where she has significantly contributed to health care initiatives and strategies, particularly within rural settings....
Public Health Partnership Conference Recap
This year NYSARH partnered with the NYS Public Health Association (NYSPHA), the NYS Association of County Health Officials (NYSACHO), and the NYS Conference of Environmental Health Directors (NYSCEHD) to promote the 2022 Public Health Partnership Conference. The conference took place from April 27th-29th with attendees participating virtually and in-person in Niagara Falls, NY. Attendees from NYSARH included Director for Strategic Development, Sara Wall Bollinger, Communications and Development Specialist (Americorps VISTA service member), Ella James, and Board members Karin Pantel and Mandy Qualls. Attendees enjoyed around 20 different breakout sessions, two poster presentation sessions– one for professional posters and one for student posters–and two compelling keynote addresses. The fi...
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
The NYS Cancer Consortium’s Colorectal Cancer Action Team acknowledges March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Each year in New York State, approximately 9,000 people develop colorectal cancer, and 3,000 New Yorkers die from it. One out of every 24 adults will develop colorectal cancer sometime in their life. Colorectal cancer occurs most often as people age (60% of new cases occur among those age 65 and older), however nearly 94% of all colorectal cancers are diagnosed after age 45. Average Risk Colorectal Cancer Screening Starts at Age 45: Regular screening for colorectal cancer can save lives. For adults at average risk for colorectal cancer, the United States Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society now recommend that screening for colorectal cancer begin a...
HOW NEW YORK STATE CAN PRESERVE RURAL ACCESS TO EMS
In order to preserve rural communities’ access to emergency medical services, New York State government must act now. Due to inadequate reimbursement from Medicaid causing strained budgets, minimal provided incentive for volunteers, and lack of utilization of EMS capabilities, rural ambulance agencies are at risk of closing down or consolidating with other agencies. Fewer ambulance agencies will only increase response and wait time for emergency medical situations, putting rural New Yorkers at an even higher risk of serious medical complications. To amend this crisis, New York State can increase the Medicaid reimbursement rate for EMS, increase incentive for volunteerism by providing SUNY scholarships for volunteers and/or their children, and initiate community paramedicine programs in rur...
Dr. Richard Terry receives Rural Health Service Award
Dr. Richard Terry currently serves as the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM at Elmira) and Chief Academic Officer at Lake Erie Consortium for Osteopathic Medicine Training (LECOMT). This award recognizes Dr. Terry’s long and distinguished commitment to medical education, highlighted by his recent tireless efforts to expand LECOM programs to fill a critical need for physicians for underserved rural populations in the Southern Tier of New York. Dr. Terry previously served as the Designated Institutional Official at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, which hosts nine ACGME accredited programs and supports 126 residents and fellows. Previously, he served as the Assistant Dean of Regional Clinical Education at LECOM where he built...
Dr. Robert Dweck receives Rural Health Practitioner Award
Dr. Robert Dweck has been a dedicated family practitioner for over 30 years. He came to this rural area through the National Health Service Program to help pay off his student loan. He soon realized that this was not only a community where he could stay and raise a family, but most importantly, one that really needed him. Dr. Dweck opened his own practice in Millerton in 1987and, in 1990, joined two other practitioners to form the Foothills Family Health Center, which then became the Dutchess Medical Group. This practice was unique in the area, accepting Medicaid and offering a sliding fee schedule for patients who lacked insurance coverage. In 2001, he worked with Hudson River Health Care (HRHCare) to transition the practice into HRHCare’s network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (F...
Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force wins Outstanding Rural Health Program Award
NYSARH is pleased to recognize the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force as the Outstanding Rural Health Program of the Year. The nomination, submitted by Julie Gutowski, included information about an emergency department screening process used at local hospitals that helps to identify people using opioids that then connects patients with Peer Advocate or Recovery Coach in addition to a referral for treatment. The Task Force operates a tri-county crisis line. Their combined efforts have resulted in a measurable decrease in drug overdose visits to local hospitals as well as opioid related deaths between 2017 and 2018. The goal of the Genesee-Orleans-Wyoming Opioid Task Force is to address the growing opioid crisis in the tri-county area. Through active collaboration and engagement, ...
NYSARH Announces New Administrative Team
The New York State Association for Rural Health (NYSARH) announces a new Administrative contract with Northern Area Health Education Center (NAHEC) effective July 2019. Karin Blackburn, NAHEC Center Director, will lead the NYSARH team as Director of Administrative Services. She will be assisted by Katie Rafferty, Accounting Manager, and Kathy Hughes, Project Associate. Sara Wall Bollinger will continue as Director for Strategic Development. The Administrative Team will support the Board of Directors and the work of NYSARH committees. They will produce communications, manage member engagement and implement the annual Rural Health Conference.
Measurement Project to Strengthen Rural CBOs’ Case for Participation In Value-Based Payment.
Healthcare’s traditional payment structures are rapidly shifting from fee-for-service models, in which providers are paid for delivering separate episodes of care, to value-based payment (VBP) models, in which providers are incentivized to move the needle on key health outcomes for their patients. With this new expectation comes increased attention to addressing patients’ non-medical needs such as food, transportation, financial stability, and housing. These health-related social needs, also referred to as Social Determinants of Health, broadly impact the wellbeing of individuals and communities. In this emerging payment environment, community- based organizations (CBOs) addressing social determinants have new opportunities to access healthcare dollars – if they can demonstrate the financi...
NYSARH in Action: NRHA’s Rural Health Policy Institute in Washington
The NYSARH delegation joined over 450 fellow rural health stakeholders from across the United States in Washington, D.C. for NRHA’s 30th Rural Health Policy Institute. The NYSARH team met with Representatives Brindisi, Collins, Delgado, and Katko in person and with staff representing Representatives Higgins, Maloney, Morelle, Reed, Stefanik, and Tonko, and with staff representing Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. We shared packets with staff from Representatives Lowey, Ocasio-Cortez, and Rose. If you use Twitter, please follow @NRHA_Advocacy and NRHA on Twitter and include #RuralHealth in all your tweets to keep the issues NRHA fights for at the forefront of the national conversation with colleagues and representatives.
NYSARH Research Project: Impact of NYS Funding
Casey Edwards conducted an important research project for NYSARH designed to inform and educate decision-makers regarding NYS funding to public health programs which have a direct and significant impact on: Health of people in rural communities Economic health of those communities Social determinants of health Edwards focus during her research was tri-fold–1.) identify and understand the purpose of key New York State health-related funding streams within selected rural communities, 2.) understand and identify the discrete categories of direct, indirect, and induced economic impact of outside funding by looking at selected health and social entities, and 3.) identify and discuss the economic impact of cuts in funding on rural infrastructure and communities, through the use of IMPLAN w...
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