http://www.scrhn.org/
When I began looking for an example of a rural heatlthcare team in my study county I quickly found the Sullivan County Rural Healthcare Network (SCRHN). Their mission is "to collaborate to improve the health status of Sullivan County residents by increasing access to coordinated, cost effective health care services." The team consists of a number of healthcare offices, schools, and programs aimed at improving access to and outcomes of healthcare as well as some other programs designed to improve education, help families, and ensure the appropriate upbringing of children. One such healthcare office, Hudson River Healthcare, Inc. provides primary, preventative, and behavioral care regardless of ability to pay. They have offices located through southeast NY. I think this is a step in the right direction for helping people get in to see a doctor and get care when they need it before their issue becomes an emergency. Additonally, there is Maternal Infant Services Network for the needs of women of childbearing age and their families, hospice care for those that need end of life care, The Recovery Center for recovery from alcoholism and drugs, Prasad Children's Dental Health Programs for dental care and others all made widely available to those who need it.
In the future, I am still not entirely sure where I see myself in the healthcare team. I know that I will be going into the Navy after medical school and I think I may want to specialize in Emergency Medicine, although I am still leaving myself open to all options (save Ob-Gyn). Once I am out of the Navy (should be about 12 years after graduating or more depending on what happens), depending on where I am at that point I could possibly pursue a job in a rural area ER and work to make sure that appropriate care is provided for members of my community. If there is a need for more care then I would work to try find solutions like the one presented in the article we had read before the last class to ensure everyone is able to get access to healthcare.
First of all, good luck Dan. You have chosen an interesting career path. I imagine the Sullivan County Rural Health Network is somewhat like the services offered in my county of interest (Suffolk) where health teams work together to provide the best care possible for their residents despite a shortage of primary care physicians and a lack of adequate health insurance on the part of the patients. I see that the SCRHN has put in place a number of health programs to educate and help residents to improve their physical well-being.
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