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MORNING NEWS: Young Hosts Rural Hospital Roundtable Forum

WRFA Radio — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 15:46:23 +0000

ALBANY – Rural Hospitals like the ones found throughout the Southern Tier will be the topic for discussion today in Albany. Senator Catharine Young and Senator Kemp Hannon will be hosting a formal roundtable event to discuss the state of rural hospitals in New York later this morning.

Young is currently the Chair of the Legislative Commission on Rural Resources while Hannon is the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Health.

According to Young, New York’s rural hospitals are presented with unique challenges including, but not limited to, access to care, personnel shortages, and sustainability concerns. Our goal must be to make tailored changes that both reduce costs and improve outcomes in even our most rural communities. Today’s roundtable discussion will work to help find solutions for those challenges.

Roundtable participants from across the state will be in attendance to discuss these issues as they relate to rural providers, as well as effective alternatives to a one-size-fits-all approach. Among those expected to attend is Ann Abdella, Executive Director of the Chautauqua County Health Network.

MORNING NEWS: Critical Discussion on Health Exchange is Tonight

WRFA Radio — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:29:23 +0000

JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library will offer the third program in its Critical Discussion Series, this time on the topic of the Health Exchange, tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Fireplace Room at the library.

The critical discussion will feature a panel of local experts, Chaired by Ann Abdella, executive director of the Chautauqua County Health Network. It will also consist of Betsy Wright, president and CEO of WCA Hospital; Todd Tranum, president & CEO at Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce & Manufacturers Association; Roberta Keller, executive director at Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc; Art Wingerter, president of Univera Healthcare; and Dr. Rudy Mueller.

Library Acting Director Tina Scott says she encourages people of the Chautauqua County area to attend this discussion to find out what the Health Exchange is and how it may affect their lives.

Tonight’s event is free and open to the public. For information, call 484-7135, Ext. 225.

MORNING NEWS: Next Prendergast Critical Discussion to Deal with Health Exchange on Feb. 19

WRFA Radio — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 20:31:00 +0000

JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library will offer the third program in its Critical Discussion Series on the topic of the Health Exchange a week from today in Jamestown.

The discussion will be chaired by Ann Abdella, executive director of the Chautauqua County Health Network. The panel will also consist of Todd Tranum, president & CEO at Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce & Manufacturers Association; Roberta Keller, executive director at Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc; Art Wingerter, president of Univera Healthcare; and Dr. Rudy Mueller, healthcare author and former Chautauqua County Legislator.

Prendergast Library Acting Director Tina Scott is encouraging people of the Chautauqua County area to attend the discussion to find out what the Health Exchange is and how it may affect their lives.

The discussion will run from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19 in the Fireplace Room of the library, and is free and open to the public. The library web site, www.prendergastlibrary.org, also has links to federal law and other information on the health topic.

For information, call 484-7135, Ext. 225.

Federally Funded Chautauqua Health Center to Open in October

WRFA Radio — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 14:09:09 +0000

DUNKIRK – The Jamestown Post-Journal is reporting that local health officials are have a positive reaction to the news of a federal grant to fund the Chautauqua Health Center. In June, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced that a $650,000 federal Health and Human Services Department grant was secured to start a county health center. With a scheduled opening date in October, the center will serve an estimated 5,000 under-served residents with medical needs.

Labeled as a “one-stop shop” for medical access to those with or without insurance, the health center – which had been in discussions and planning for five years – will provide medical and behavior services to thousands in the county. The center will be located in the Graf Building on Central Avenue in Dunkirk.

County health commissioner Christine Schuyler said the center has been sorely needed. She said with a health care provider shortage in the county, the center will provide a variety of services in one location. She added that emergency room visits should decrease – saving room, money and resources for area hospitals.

Chautauqua County Health Network Executive Director Ann Abdella also said the center will be a great benefit for the community.

The federal grant, which will be recurring to the center and supplemented through insurance reimbursements, was secured by the Chautauqua Health Network and the Community Health Center Association of New York.