Let Us Support Your Next Event with a STHCS Info Tote! We know we can’t be everywhere—but our outreach materials can be! If your agency is hosting a community event, health fair, or outreach opportunity that STHCS can’t attend in person, we’d be happy to provide one of our informational totes. Each tote is thoughtfully organized by program and includes flyers, brochures, and giveaways that help promote the many services and supports we offer. One partner recently shared how helpful and easy it was to use, saying she wished more organizations provided something similar! If you have an event coming up, reach out—we’d love to share a tote and make sure STHCS is represented in your community efforts. Jacksen’s Avenue of Graduates – Tomorrow! It’s hard to believe that Jacksen is graduating from high school—especially since he was born just one week before I took over as CEO at STHCS. Time really does fly. As part of his school’s Avenue of Graduates celebration, Jacksen will be outside of STHCS tomorrow, June 14 at 4 PM. If you’re around, please step outside and help us cheer him on during this special milestone! Jacksen will be attending Alfred State this fall to pursue a degree in nursing. He discovered his passion for healthcare while participating in the EMT-B Academy, and we couldn’t be more proud of the path he’s chosen.

Remote Area Medical Clinic Coming to Olean We’re excited to announce that Remote Area Medical (RAM) will host a free pop-up clinic in Olean on September 13–14. The clinic will offer medical, dental, and vision services at no cost to individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or facing barriers to care. In addition to direct services, we plan to be onsite sharing information about health insurance options and New York’s 1115 Medicaid waiver. This is a unique opportunity to both meet urgent health needs and connect people to longer-term resources. More details will be shared as planning continues. A Note from a Former EMT Student We recently received a heartfelt message from Tyrell Fuqua, a 2022 graduate of our EMT-B program: “Just wanted to thank you all again. My fiancée and I were in the EMT course back in 2022. We are almost done with our paramedic program here in NYC. Thank you again. I am now an EMS supervisor in The Bronx. We owe you a lot.” Stories like Tyrell’s are powerful reminders of the difference these programs make. We’re proud of the role we play in helping students launch meaningful careers in EMS—and deeply grateful to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for believing in this work and making it possible. We wish Tyrell and Jalenni continued success as they take the next steps in their EMS journey.

Teamwork in Action: Moving the 1115 Waiver Forward We had a productive meeting this week with Tim McNeil to continue our conversations around the 1115 Medicaid waiver. These discussions are helping define our role in advancing the waiver goal of better integrating medical and social care. We’re energized by the opportunities this work presents and remain committed to strengthening partnerships that promote health equity across our region. Several of our team members have been actively engaged in this work, and I want to thank Lacey, Lindsey, KC, and Bethany for their dedication—and Jordan for taking the lead on this important initiative. NYS Rural Health Council Meeting On Thursday, I participated in our first virtual NYS Rural Health Council meeting. A big thank you to Claire Parde, our Chair, for leading a smooth and engaging session. I also want to recognize Karen Madden and her team for their ongoing support—they're always a valuable resource to this group. The Council's mission is to advise the Commissioner of Health on all aspects of rural health care and delivery, ensuring that policies and programs address the unique challenges faced by rural communities. It's a vital platform for voicing the needs of areas like ours. These meetings are essential for staying connected with statewide initiatives and ensuring that the perspectives of our rural communities are heard. I'm proud that we have a seat at the table to represent Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties and to advocate for the health needs of the region we serve.

Kids in the Kitchen A big thank you to our staff member Lindsey, as well as Emma and the team from FeedMore WNY, for making the Kids in the Kitchen event a great success. It was exciting to see our building full of energy as kids learned about cooking and healthy eating through fun, hands-on activities. Our staff put in a lot of time and effort to prepare for this event, and it truly showed. The event ran smoothly, and the feedback has been very positive. Events like this show how important it is to work together to support our community and teach healthy habits early. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen! EMS Week Appreciation This past week, we were proud to celebrate EMS Week and recognize the incredible dedication of our region’s EMS providers. A heartfelt thank you to Olean General Hospital, Jones Memorial Hospital, and UPMC Chautauqua for supporting this effort by hosting cookouts and events throughout the week. Your partnership and support help make our providers feel valued and appreciated. It was great to see so many EMS professionals come together to enjoy good food, camaraderie, and well-deserved recognition. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s EMS Week a meaningful celebration.

Mental Health Awareness Month As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Family Voice Advocacy Committee hosted its first-ever youth creative arts contest in Cattaraugus County, inviting students to share their interpretation of the theme “It’s OK not to be OK.” With 48 submissions from across the county, the entries were showcased at an art show held Monday at our training center. We were grateful to provide the space for this meaningful event, which aimed to reduce stigma around mental health and elevate the voices of young people. Thank you to the local providers and community members who donated prizes and helped make this a success. OGH Wait Times Update This week, EMS and hospital leadership came together to address patient offloading delays at OGH. A 30-minute escalation threshold was established, along with improved communication protocols between EMS providers, charge nurses, and hospital leadership. These collaborative efforts reflect a shared commitment to supporting EMS in the field and improving patient flow. Thank you to all who participated.

Five Years of Funding Approved — Thank You for Your Support! I’m excited to share that Southern Tier Health Care System has received our award letter for the next five years of Program Agency funding! This is a major milestone for our organization and the EMS agencies we support. Final approvals are still moving through the process, but this puts us in a strong position to move forward. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported Southern Tier Health Care System over the past nine months while we operated without a contract. Your trust, encouragement, and partnership made all the difference. Our hope is that with this new five-year agreement, we can now focus fully on the future and continue building stronger programs and services. We’re excited for what’s ahead! Training Providers for Psychiatric and Behavioral Health Emergencies On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, we hosted our online training session, Psychiatric and Behavioral Health Emergencies, featuring Dr. John McNamara. We were pleased to have over 20 participants register and attend. Behavioral health emergencies continue to be a growing challenge for providers, especially in rural areas where access to psychiatric services can be limited. This training helped equip our providers with practical strategies to better support patients in crisis. A special thank you to Dr. McNamara for delivering an excellent presentation and sharing his expertise. His insights were greatly appreciated and contributed to a meaningful discussion on this important topic.

Audit Confirms Strong Stewardship This week, our annual audit was presented to the Board of Directors, and I’m proud to share that we received a clean, unmodified opinion. This is a big accomplishment and one I’m truly proud of—it reflects the strength of our financial systems and internal controls. I’m incredibly grateful for Colleen, our bookkeeper, whose attention to detail and dedication throughout the year keeps everything running smoothly. I also want to thank Ed Bysiek, our auditor, for once again guiding us through a successful and seamless audit. I appreciate both of them for their hard work and continued support. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month—a time to come together to raise awareness and focus on preventing sexual violence. This year’s theme, Together We Act, United We Change, is a reminder that it takes all of us to create safer communities. At STHCS, we’re proud to stand with our partners in supporting survivors and working toward a future free from violence. To learn more or find helpful resources, visit nsvrc.org/saam.

Breaking Barriers, Building Connections As part of New York State’s 1115 Medicaid Waiver, STHCS has joined both Social Care Networks (SCNs) serving our region—Western New York Integrated Care Collaborative (WNYICC) and Forward Leading IPA (FLIPA). Our team has completed several training courses and is now ready to begin screening individuals for social needs. This work supports the waiver’s goal of improving health equity by bringing medical and social services together. It fits perfectly with our mission to break down barriers and improve access to care in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties. We’re proud to play a role in this important statewide effort and look forward to working with our partners to build a stronger, more connected system of care. Egg-stra Special Easter Wishes (Even with Today’s Egg Prices!) From all of us at STHCS, we’re sending warm Easter wishes your way. While the price of eggs may be up, our gratitude for your partnership is truly priceless. We hope this season brings you peace, renewed energy, and time to connect with those who matter most. Thank you for being part of our mission to build healthier, stronger communities.

UB Cadaver Lab Visit Leaves Lasting Impact Yesterday, all 43 students from our Paramedic Program had the incredible opportunity to visit the University at Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Cadaver Lab. This hands-on experience allowed students to practice advanced skills—such as intubation—on real human cadavers, generously donated through the UB Anatomical Gift Program. This type of training is truly invaluable. It offered our students a rare chance to deepen their clinical understanding in a controlled, respectful, and highly educational environment. Opportunities like this not only enhance skill development but also reinforce the critical importance of anatomy in prehospital care. A huge thank you to Dr. Brian Clemency for making this experience possible, and to everyone at UB who helped ensure it was meaningful and impactful. Our students walked away with a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for the profession! Federal Grant to Address Health Disparities Rescinded We recently received unexpected notice that the $250,000 CDC-funded grant awarded through Health Research Inc. for the National Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities has been rescinded, effective immediately. This funding was intended to support community health and wellness in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties, with a significant focus on improving transportation access and partnering with a small grassroots organization, Interfaith Caregivers. Over the past 18 months, we worked diligently to align this funding with local needs, particularly to support high-risk and underserved populations. We were especially excited about dedicating $75,000 to collaborate with Interfaith Caregivers—an effort that would have strengthened connections between transportation, care coordination, and community wellness. While we understand the CDC’s decision to sunset certain COVID-related initiatives now that the emergency has ended, this abrupt termination leaves a critical gap in planned services. We remain committed to pursuing new funding opportunities to continue this important work and deeply appreciate the partnerships that made this effort possible.

NYS Certified Instructor Update Draws Nearly 50 Educators On April 1, Southern Tier Health Care System hosted a successful NYS Certified Instructor Update, drawing close to 50 EMS educators from across New York State. Held in a hybrid format, the 3-hour session featured updates from the Bureau of EMS, guidance on student engagement and remediation, and a closing Q&A. As the program agency for our region, this is another important service we’re proud to provide—supporting the professional development of certified instructors and strengthening EMS education statewide. A big thank-you to Mickey Forness for leading the course, and to Drew Chesney, Bryan Goyette, and Suzanne Soltysik for sharing their expertise and helping make the event a success! Another Successful Round of Step into Health Care This week, we wrapped up another 14-session run of our Step into Health Care program—and it was a great success! Huge thanks to KC for taking the lead and ensuring everything came together so well. She’s already working on planning the next session, keeping the momentum going strong. To date, we’ve had over 50 high school students participate in this program. Even more exciting, some students from past sessions are now looking to join our EMT-B Summer Academy. It’s clear that when we expose young people to the many career paths in health care, it sparks something real. We’re proud to be growing the next generation of health care providers right here in our region.

New Healthcare Leaders This week, I had the opportunity to join several STHCS Board Members in welcoming two new leaders to our region: Dr. Swagata Banik, Dean of the DePerro School of Health Professions at St. Bonaventure, and Bradley J. Chapman, FACHE, President of Bradford Regional Medical Center and Olean General Hospital. We’re excited to work alongside both leaders as they begin their new roles, and we look forward to the ways they’ll help advance the mission of STHCS to strengthen and support the health of our communities. A Day of Collaboration and Growth Today is a busy day in our training room! We’re starting the morning by hosting several steering committee members for the Community Health Assessment (CHA). The CHA is a regional effort to identify the most important health needs in our communities and develop strategies to improve health outcomes. This work is being done in partnership with Olean General Hospital, Bradford Regional Medical Center, the Cattaraugus County Health Department, and Bertrand Chaffee Hospital. Right after that, we’ll be hosting the Cattaraugus County Community Services Board meeting. This board helps guide local mental health, substance use, and developmental disability services. We’re excited to welcome two new members: Dr. Brian Walters and Dawn Colburn, who will both bring valuable perspectives to the work ahead. It’s great to have the space to hold meetings like these, and we’re looking forward to expanding into the lower level of our building to give us even more capacity in the future.

Community Health Needs Assessment – Your Input Matters I’m honored to serve on the Steering Committee for the 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), led by Olean General Hospital and the Cattaraugus County Health Department. This effort is critical in identifying the biggest health challenges in our community and shaping future healthcare services. We need your voice! By taking a quick, anonymous 5–10-minute survey, you can help ensure local healthcare services meet the real needs of our region. As a bonus, participants will be entered into a drawing for a Chamber Gift Card. The survey is open until April 15, 2025—please take a moment to share your thoughts and encourage others to do the same! Click here to participate. Paramedic Program Moves into Hands-On Training The UPMC Chautauqua Regional Paramedic Program, which kicked off on January 6, is now in full swing! The 42 students—representing Jamestown, Belmont, and Olean—are advancing to the next phase of their training, where they will begin developing essential paramedic-level skills. As part of their coursework, students are completing hospital clinical rotations and EMS ride-alongs, gaining the real-world experience they need to prepare for the challenges of emergency medical care. On April 10, they will all participate in a cadaver lab—an exceptional hands-on learning experience made possible through our valued partnership with Dr. Clemency. We are especially proud to host and support the 14 students training in Olean as they work toward becoming certified New York State paramedics. Their dedication to this rigorous program will strengthen emergency medical services in our region for years to come.