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Nav Menu Safe Kids Upcoming Events Kids in the Kitchen In partnership with Feedmore WNY, this hands-on experience allows chefs to explore new recipes and ingredients in a safe, supervised setting. Children from the ages of 8-18 will have the opportunity to get creative in the kitchen, develop valuable cooking skills, and take home ingredients to make the recipes again. Don’t miss this fun and educational event that will inspire a love for cooking! Sign Up Babysitter Training This is a hands-on course designed for children ages 11to 18. After completing this course, students will receive a two-year CPR certification and be trained in basic first aid and choking relief. Class participants will learn how to care for infants and young children, communicate effectively with children, properly find babysitting jobs, recognize safety issues, and how to handle emergencies, students will also learn appropriate games, meals, and snacks for children. Sign Up

Emergency Medicine Southern Tier Emergency Medical System (STEMS) is a program of Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc., and also an EMS program agency for the Southwestern Regional EMS Council (SWREMS). STEMS is responsible for researching and coordinating educational seminars to meet the needs of the EMS agencies in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties. We are contracted by the New York State Department of Health Bureau of EMS to provide a specific set of "deliverables," which are required goals for us to meet. STEMS also supports the Western Regional Medical Advisory Committee (WREMAC). Register Now Current Provider Resources Southwestern Regional EMS Council STEMS Monthly Minute Southern Tier EMT-B Academy WREMAC Regional Paramedic Program NYSDOH Division of EMS

IMPROVING THE HEALTH & WELLNESS OF OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES Our Key Services At Southern Tier Health Care System, we are dedicated to addressing the unique healthcare challenges faced by our rural communities. Our programs are designed to improve access, provide education, and deliver life-saving resources to underserved populations. Here’s how we make a difference: Community Support EMS Education & Training Step Into Healthcare Telehealth Safe Kids Pathways to Care About us For 30 years, Southern Tier Health Care System (STHCS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Olean, NY, has served 250,000 residents in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties—rural areas facing severe healthcare shortages and high poverty rates. STHCS partners with healthcare providers, educators, law enforcement, and other leaders to deliver holistic care, leveraging technology to improve access. Programs include EMS training, Narcan education, suicide prevention, and initiatives to eliminate barriers to healthcare. Collaborating with 12 partners, STHCS aligns with health department priorities to enhance healthcare capacity and support underserved communities. See Programs Our Mission Our Mission Our Mission It is the mission of Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. to improve the health and wellness of the rural communities we serve. Belief Statement Agencies and organizations affiliated with STHCS believe that our collective knowledge and experience is an effective resource to address health care issues in our region. We further believe that STHCS is an appropriate mechanism to facilitate the project and programs which may be needed to accomplish this. Vision Statement The vision of STHCS is that comprehensive health needs of all people will be met through its facilitation of an accessible, seamless, quality system of providers and services. This will be accomplished by maximizing resources and cost-effective approaches to improve the quality of life. SEE UPDATES VIEW DONNA'S WEEKLY PROGRAM UPDATES! Donna Kahm has served as President and CEO at Southern Tier Health Care System since January 2007. To view her weekly updates, click below! View Updates Our Programs

A Proud Moment for Rural Healthcare in Our Region I want to take a moment to recognize a significant accomplishment within our region. Jones Memorial Hospital was recently named one of the Top 20 Rural and Community Hospitals in the nation by the National Rural Health Association. They are also the only hospital in New York State to receive this recognition, which speaks volumes about the level of care and commitment happening right here in our region. This recognition builds on their recent Top 100 designation by The Chartis Center for Rural Health and reinforces the importance of strong rural healthcare systems. I also want to recognize Sandra Watkins, Chief Nursing Officer at Jones Memorial Hospital and a member of the STHCS Board. Sandra’s leadership and perspective are an important part of the work we do, and it’s great to see that same level of excellence reflected in her organization. Congratulations to Jim Helms and the entire Jones Memorial team. This is a meaningful achievement for your organization and for all of us working to strengthen healthcare across rural New York. Progress Across Key Priorities I want to provide a brief update on several areas of work that continue to move forward across STHCS. We are making steady progress on our facility improvements, with a focus on creating functional, high-quality space that supports both workforce development and community-based services. These updates are not just about the physical space, but about positioning STHCS to better serve our region long-term. In addition, our Pathways to Care work continues to gain traction. We are strengthening coordination with EMS, healthcare providers, and community partners to improve access to services and better support individuals navigating the system. This work takes time, but we are seeing meaningful progress. I appreciate the continued commitment from our team and partners as we move these efforts forward.

Bringing State Training to Our Region We were pleased to host the Fire Officer I course through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services at our training facility over the past two weeks. This course is designed for fire officers with first line supervisory responsibilities and focuses on strengthening leadership, safety, and operational decision making within the fire service. The training also highlights the importance of having a dedicated regional training space where fire, EMS, and public safety professionals can come together for high quality instruction close to home. Participants from the City of Olean and the Seneca Nation attended the course, along with an additional participant from the Utica region. Bringing participants together from different areas of New York created an opportunity to share experience, strengthen professional connections, and build skills that benefit the communities they serve. The instructors shared that they were extremely pleased with the training space and overall environment at the center and noted that they look forward to returning to bring additional state trainings to our region in the future. We appreciate the commitment of all participants and partners who continue to support professional development and strengthen emergency response across our communities. Supporting Rural Older Adults and Caregivers We continue to see increasing demand for programs that support older adults and caregivers across Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties. Many of the individuals we encounter through community outreach and EMS partnerships are navigating complex health and social needs while trying to remain safely in their homes. Over the coming months, we will continue strengthening partnerships with local healthcare providers, community organizations, and emergency services to improve connections to services and resources. These efforts are intended to help ensure that older adults and families in our rural communities have access to the support they need to maintain health, safety, and independence.

STEMS Monthly Minute STHCS recently launched the first installment of the STEMS Monthly Minute video series, a short educational resource developed to support EMS providers across our region. The first video focuses on strengthening patient handoffs using the MIST format and highlights the importance of clear, structured communication during the EMS handoff time-out process. The series is designed to provide brief, practical refreshers that reinforce best practices and support consistent, high-quality patient care in the field. Additional episodes will be released in the coming months, and provider feedback will help guide future topics. Step Into Healthcare Career Academy – Cohort 7 Our workforce development efforts continue with the launch of the seventh cohort of the Step Into Healthcare Career Academy, coordinated by KC. The program introduces high school students to careers in healthcare and emergency medical services through hands-on learning and early exposure to the field. Students from several local schools are participating in this cohort. Programs like this help build awareness of healthcare career pathways and support the long-term development of the regional healthcare workforce.