Meeting with Congressman Langworthy I had the opportunity to meet Congressman Nick Langworthy on Wednesday afternoon, along with local law enforcement and addiction treatment officials from the Southern Tier. Our main objective was to educate him about the significant impact of fentanyl in our local area. Fentanyl is a highly dangerous substance that has resulted in numerous deaths in the Southern Tier. This dangerous substance is now being mixed with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and even marijuana. Additionally, fentanyl is being disguised as pills resembling popular drugs such as ecstasy, Xanax, and Adderall. During our meeting, Congressman Langworthy took the time to discuss the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of Fentanyl Act, also known as the HALT Act, which was successfully passed by the House of Representatives in May. I would like to express my gratitude to Congressman Langworthy for listening to our concerns and recognizing the impact this crisis has on our local community.  Healthy Cattaraugus NY Partnership The Healthy Cattaraugus NY Partnership Leadership Team came together to support the Accelerator Plan, which is funded by the CDC. The goal of this project is to speed up efforts to improve the health outcomes of individuals who face health disparities and inequities due to chronic diseases. To achieve this, it is important for different groups to work together, including public health, government, businesses, community-based organizations (CBOs), healthcare partners, and community partners. I am happy to share that community paramedicine and telehealth are being considered as potential solutions to be included in the accelerator plan. I believe that these two areas have great potential to address health disparities, promote fairness, and improve access to healthcare in Cattaraugus County. I am excited for our upcoming meeting later this month and the chance to keep collaborating with the members of this leadership team.  HFWCNY’s 20th Anniversary2023 marks The Health Foundation for Western & Central New York (HFWCNY) reaching its 20th anniversary. Recently, I had the honor of attending a celebratory event in Buffalo. It was an exceptional occasion that brought together numerous Health Leadership Fellows (including 2 members of my team) and influential individuals who have played a vital role in supporting the foundation. This gathering truly displayed the remarkable achievements of HFWCNY. I would like to take this moment to acknowledge and express my deep appreciation to HFWCNY for their unwavering support to STHCS over the years. Their enduring commitment and assistance have been incredibly valuable, contributing significantly to the growth and success of our organization. We are grateful for their partnership and collaborative efforts.  Annual EMS SkillsDuring the past few weeks, Alicia, Maryam, and Jillian have been working diligently alongside our EMS providers. Their goal has been to fulfill the clinical skills requirement by demonstrating their competency under the guidance of a WREMAC-approved preceptor. This crucial requirement ensures that EMS providers maintain the necessary skills to provide safe emergency care. Today is the deadline for submitting these skills, and I'm pleased to announce that we have achieved 100% compliance from all agencies in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties. I want to express my gratitude to all the agencies for their cooperation and use of Collabornation (our new LMS system) for submission this year. Their collective effort in this process ensures the delivery of high-quality prehospital care in our community.  |
