Blog Posts

CEO Update, June 17th, 2022

6/17/2022

Conversation on Health Disparities in Rural New York

The Health Foundation for Western and Central New York released a report on Community Health Needs and Opportunities in WNY's Southern Tier. This report highlighted our work (see me on page 14) and how the social determinants of health and other over-arching systemic needs have an impact on the well-being of people in this region. Now, HFWCNY is continuing this conversation by hosting a virtual meeting for community organizations and health care providers serving rural New York State on July 18. A panel of community health leaders from western New York's Southern Tier will discuss key topics such as trauma-informed care and health equity issues affecting rural New Yorkers across the state. For more information and to register to attend, please click here.

Pediatric Classes

This past week, we held two courses for healthcare providers on treating pediatric patients. First, we hosted the AHA's PEARS (Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization) Course in partnership with the Finger Lakes Regional Training Center. PEARS prepares students to provide appropriate lifesaving interventions within the initial minutes of response until a child can be transferred to an advanced life support provider.
We also hosted a pediatric safe transport presentation with John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital’s Benjamin Kasper BS, AEMTP, CPST, Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator. Participants learned about best practices on how pediatric patients should be transported in ambulances. Discussions also occurred on different available restraint devices.
Thanks to all who attended to ensure pediatric patients receive excellent care!

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CEO Update, June 10th, 2022

6/10/2022

Dr. Lamothe Named Interim CMO for UAHS

Last week, Dr. Henri Lamothe, MD, was named interim chief medical officer at Upper Allegheny Health System's Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital. His work experience includes time at BRMC and OGH from 2007 to 2016, during which time he served as medical director in the emergency departments. He also served as medical director for more than 20 EMS agencies in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties.

Since Dr. Lamothe departed from UAHS in 2016, he has remained involved in the area and several programs of STHCS, including the Southern Tier Opioid Prevention Program. I am excited that Dr. Lamothe is coming back to the Olean area and know he will be great as the Chief Medical Officer.

Moving Forward Together Update

We have been making great strides with our Moving Forward Together initiative. One of the grant deliverables is to create "enhanced telecommunication hotspots," which we call telesuites. The research was done on areas lacking broadband in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties, and five public locations were chosen as the sites of our telesuites. These locations are Friendship Free Library, Wide Awake Club Library (Fillmore), and Whitesville Public Library in Allegany County. Randolph Free Library and Healthy Community Alliance (Gowanda) in Cattaraugus County. The telesuites will be private rooms located in community organizations equipped with all the technology someone would need to participate in a telehealth session. Strengthening access is our goal, so these telesuites will be offered to clients/patients of the organizations in our coalition: CASA-Trinity, ACASA, Clarity Wellness, Seneca Health, and Cattaraugus County Department of Community Services. I want to thank Jordan Yaros, our program coordinator, for keeping this project on track, and I look forward to this initiative's continued progress.

NYS Department of Health wants to hear about your thoughts and experiences with telehealth. Survey results will be used to inform future telehealth policy development within NYS. Click here to complete the survey by July 1st. The policy development of telehealth is very important, and your feedback is crucial.

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CEO Update