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Expanding Workforce Development Through the Career Academy I’m excited to share that we’ve welcomed another group of students into our Step Into Healthcare Career Academy, continuing our work to grow the healthcare workforce and inspire the next generation of professionals. This program gives high school students hands-on experiences and a real look at the many career paths in healthcare. With the demand for healthcare workers rising in our region, it’s more important than ever to invest in young talent. By giving students knowledge, skills, and real-world experience, we’re helping to build a stronger, more prepared workforce for the future. A big thank you to our community partners for supporting this program and making it a success—and to KC for leading this cohort! Enhancing Transportation Access Through ITNAmerica Access to reliable transportation remains one of the biggest barriers to healthcare in our region, and I’m excited to share that we are taking a major step toward addressing this challenge. We have officially begun the process of onboarding Independent Transportation Network America (ITNAmerica), a nationally recognized transportation solution, to support our Pathways to a Healthier You program. We’ve been meeting regularly with ITNAmerica and Interfaith Caregivers to set up the platform, ensuring a seamless experience for those who need transportation to medical appointments and essential health services. In addition, we’ve been developing marketing materials and a work plan to recruit volunteer drivers, a key component in making this program successful. While we know there may be challenges along the way, I believe this initiative has the potential to make a real difference for those struggling to access care.

Standing Together for Heart Health: National Wear Red Day Today, we proudly support National Wear Red Day to raise awareness about heart disease—the leading cause of death among women in the U.S. At STHCS, we understand the importance of heart health and encourage our community to focus on prevention through education, regular screenings, and healthy choices. We’re grateful for our partners and healthcare professionals who work tirelessly to promote cardiovascular health. By wearing red, we show our support for heart disease awareness and prevention. Let’s keep advocating for healthier hearts in our communities! Breaking Down Barriers I’m excited to share that STHCS has officially joined both Social Care Networks (SCNs) serving our region—Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative (WNYICC) and Forward Leaning IPA (FLIPA)—as part of New York State’s 1115 Medicaid waiver. With our contracts now in place, we are ready to support this transformative effort to improve health equity and strengthen social care integration. Through the 1115 waiver, we are expanding our role in connecting underserved populations with vital healthcare and social services. This initiative aligns with our mission to break down barriers to care and enhance the health and well-being of our rural communities. We look forward to making a lasting impact!

Intensive Crisis Center This week, I had the opportunity to coordinate and participate in a valuable discussion about the BestResponse Intensive Crisis Center, a transformative new facility dedicated to providing immediate care and support for individuals experiencing acute mental health or substance use crises. This 24/7 crisis stabilization center serves Allegany, Erie, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Niagara Counties—while also welcoming individuals from beyond these areas—with a “no wrong door” approach to care. I want to extend my gratitude to the many community partners who attended this meeting. Their engagement and commitment to improving crisis services are truly appreciated. The discussion reinforced the critical role this resource will play in our communities, offering crisis counseling, medication management, substance use treatment, and seamless referrals to long-term care and community support. I’m excited to continue these conversations and work toward ensuring these essential services are accessible in our region. Join the Wellbeing+ Challenge! I’m excited to invite you to participate in an engaging new wellness challenge as we partner with Wellbeing+! This platform is a fantastic way to prioritize your health while staying connected and motivated. With Wellbeing+, you can: ✅ Track your daily steps and monitor your progress ✅ Join fun challenges to stay motivated ✅ Access on-demand content, including recipes, workouts, and more ✅ Win prizes—random drawings will be held for participants who join and engage! Ready to get started? Click the link below to enroll. Once you sign up, you’ll receive an email with everything you need to begin: Sign Up Here Let’s take this step toward better health together—I can’t wait to see you in the challenge!

Audit Preparation I would like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Colleen Ross, our bookkeeper, for her outstanding efforts in closing out 2024. Her diligence, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence have ensured that we are fully prepared for our auditor, Ed Bysiek, to begin his review of the year. This is a critical milestone, and Colleen’s hard work has been instrumental in achieving it. Additionally, I want to acknowledge the robust financial system we have in place, including the quarterly audits conducted by our independent accountant, Ashley Peterson. These audits have been invaluable in maintaining transparency, accuracy, and accountability throughout the year, enabling a smooth and efficient year-end close. As we look ahead, I am confident that these systems, along with the dedication and expertise of our team, will continue to uphold the integrity and strength of our financial operations. I want to thank Colleen, for her exceptional contributions, and to everyone who has played a role in supporting our success. Together, we are building a solid foundation for continued growth and excellence. Cattaraugus County Community Services Board I’m excited to highlight how our training space is being utilized to support meaningful community initiatives. Today, we are proud to host the Cattaraugus County Community Services Board for their annual reorganization meeting and luncheon. We are pleased to welcome all Board Members, Subcommittee Chairs/Vice Chairs, and County Legislators to this important gathering. This annual meeting is a key opportunity for the Board to address organizational details and set the stage for continued success in serving our community. Additionally, as we begin building out the lower level, we are looking forward to enhancing our capacity to host events like this, further strengthening our role as a hub for collaboration and growth. We look forward to providing a productive space for the Board’s important work and appreciate their commitment to serving the community.

NYS Rural Health Council I am thrilled to share some exciting news: I have been appointed to represent on the New York State Rural Health Council. This prestigious opportunity enables us to contribute to shaping the future of rural healthcare across the state. I am deeply honored to serve in this capacity and to advance initiatives that prioritize the health and well-being of our communities. As part of this appointment, I have received a formal notice from the Governor's Office, along with the Oath of Office required to officially begin my duties on the board. This milestone represents an exciting chapter for our organization, as it strengthens our influence and partnerships at the state level. I look forward to sharing updates, collaborating with stakeholders, and advocating for the unique needs of rural communities in the Southern Tier and beyond. Thank you all for your unwavering support and dedication to our mission. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve! On Demand Care Program We continue to review the training materials provided by Steven Vincent for Trans Am’s Priority Service for their On Demand Care program. These conversations highlighted the essential role of comprehensive training for community paramedicine providers—a cornerstone of our strategy to elevate service delivery in our communities. Our primary focus remains on ensuring a robust onboarding process for Trans Am and other providers. This process is designed to equip team members with the expertise and confidence needed to deliver effective, high-quality care. By prioritizing thorough and targeted training, we aim to empower all staff to excel in their roles within community paramedicine. Together, we are making meaningful strides in transforming healthcare delivery.

Building on Success: A Look Back at 2024 and Our Path Forward in 2025 As I begin my 19th year as President and CEO of Southern Tier Health Care System and my 24th year with the organization, I am incredibly proud to reflect on 2024—a year marked by remarkable achievements and meaningful progress. These accomplishments are a testament to the unwavering support of our Board of Directors and the dedication of our exceptional staff. Together, we have continued to advance our mission to improve health and wellness in rural communities. To provide a comprehensive overview, I’ve prepared a document highlighting the strategic initiatives, partnerships, and milestones that have defined 2024, along with our goals and priorities for 2025. I encourage you to take the time to review it—it truly showcases the impact of our collective efforts and our vision for the future. Please click here to review the document. Paramedic Program Kicks Off Across the Southern Tier I am thrilled to announce the start of the UPMC Chautauqua Regional Paramedic Program, where 44 dedicated students from Jamestown, Belmont, and Olean have embarked on a 15-month journey to become certified New York State paramedics. Throughout the program, students will attend classes twice a week, gaining hands-on experience through hospital clinical rotations and ambulance ride-alongs. These opportunities will allow them to develop and refine the critical skills required of advanced life support providers. We are especially proud to host and support the 15 Olean-based students as they work toward this significant achievement. Their commitment to this challenging program reflects the dedication and passion needed to serve our communities in emergency medical care.

Paramedic Program Preparations Last week, I had the privilege of meeting with the dedicated faculty of the Olean site of the Regional Paramedic Program as they finalized preparations for the program's official launch next week. The passion, expertise, and commitment of these educators are truly inspiring, and it’s clear they are deeply invested in the success of their students and the program as a whole. This program represents a significant milestone for our region. By providing high-quality paramedic education locally, we are not only equipping future paramedics with the knowledge and skills they need to excel but also addressing the critical need for highly trained EMS professionals in our communities. Strong EMS systems are the backbone of emergency medical care, and this program is a powerful step toward strengthening that foundation. I am confident that the graduates of this program will make a meaningful difference in countless lives. Thank you to everyone who has played a role in bringing this initiative to fruition. I look forward to celebrating the launch next week and watching the positive impact unfold in the months and years ahead. Enhancing Our Training Center for the Future It’s hard to believe we’ve been in our building for over eight years! Over this time, our training center has become a hub of learning, growth, and collaboration. To further enhance this space, we’re excited to announce the addition of two new 85-inch screens. These upgrades will significantly improve the experience for our trainees, allowing us to better support interactive learning and presentations. This comes just in time for our 2025-2026 Paramedic program, which will be utilizing the training room on a weekly basis. It’s been incredible to see our rooms being utilized to their fullest capacity, and we’re proud to continue investing in technology that keeps us at the forefront of training excellence. We can’t wait to see the positive impact these enhancements will have on our team and the individuals we serve!