RPCN Elects New Board Officers
The Board of Directors recently elected new officers and Board members.
Re-elected as Board Chairperson is Ivette Salgado of Rochester. Now retired, Ms. Salgado worked for Action for a Better Community for 30 years, as director of employment and training programs, including ABC's nursing training school. Past volunteer experience has included board membership at the Ibero-American Action League, Ibero-American Investors Corporation, and the Genesee Regional Health Planning Council (now the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency). She was also a member of the Hispanic Health Coalition. Ms. Salgado was a founding board member of RPCN, and has served on the Board since 1986. She has played a vital role in the recruitment and retention of Hispanic health care professionals in numerous health care organizations across Monroe County, and worked diligently to advance quality health care for the medically indigent.
"We still have to overcome disparities that exist in this community for health care – for African-Americans, Latinos, and others on the margins. RPCN's primary role in the community is to do just that, " said Ms. Salgado.
Working as officers with Ms. Salgado as Chairperson, will be J. Charmaine Bennett (Compeer) as Vice Chairperson, Thomas Tod Timmel (former ViaHealth purchasing director, retired) as Treasurer, and Joanne U. Muller (former NYS VESID rehabilitation counselor, retired) as Secretary.
RPCN Staff Participate in Make a Difference Day
On Saturday, October 27, 2007, two RPCN staff – Jeannette Valle and Marco Rivas – participated in Make a Difference Day. Nationally, over 3 million Americans participated. Individuals and groups got involved in thousands of projects for the benefit of others, visiting seniors, reading to children, building homes, cleaning trash from parks, and performing countless other acts of good will.
In Rochester, Jeannette and Marco helped an RPCN patient who very recently came from Puerto Rico. They helped her find donated furniture and other household items, and move into her own apartment. They helped her access health care, and helped with her job search and resume.
Make a Difference Day was created in 1992 by USA WEEKEND magazine, which asked readers to set aside one day just to help others. The day now is sponsored by the magazine and its 600 carrier newspapers, in partnership with Points of Light & Hands On Network. It is held on the fourth Saturday in October of each year. If you would like more information, visit www.usaweekend.com/diffday/.
RPCN to Develop Utica Community Health Center
The Health Resources & Services Administration, a federal health care agency, has awarded the Rochester Primary Care Network a grant to open a medical and dental center in the City of Utica to provide direct services, in particular to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured. The $600,000 per year grant also qualifies the Center for enhanced Medicaid and Medicare billing rates. The Center will create more than twenty permanent positions, all in Utica.
The Utica Community Health Center will open in early 2008 and is slated to be located in a low-income central city neighborhood near downtown. It will provide primary health care and preventive services, general family medicine, pediatrics, acute and preventive care, chronic disease management, ancillary services, dental, integrated behavioral health services, diagnostic testing coverage, pharmacy benefits, and access to specialty services as needed.
The Utica Community Health Center will be RPCN's seventeenth affiliated health center.
RPCN Welcomes 2 New Affiliated Medical Centers
RPCN is very pleased to announce the addition of two new affiliated medical centers, Highland Family Medicine and the Rushville Health Center.
Highland Family Medicine recently moved to 777 South Clinton Avenue in Rochester, in an effort to increase accessibility especially for those most in need. It serves approximately 14,000 patients annually, and 69% of its patients are funded by Medicaid, Medicare, Child Health Plus, or self pay (uninsured).
The Rushville Health Center is located at 2 Rubin Drive in Rushville, New York. It is one of the few providers of health care to low-income individuals in Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Ontario, Wayne, and Yates Counties. In 2007, RHC had over 8000 patients, dental service in over 100 school across 3 counties. Approximately 70% of the patients served are Medicaid, sliding fee scale, or self pay (uninsured).
With the addition of Highland and Rushville as affiliates, RPCN now has sixteen affiliated health centers, and serves 720,000 visits annually.
Latino Health Fair Provides Health Outreach & A Fun Day
The Latino Health Fair is held each summer, with over 60 participating health and human service agencies. Attendees can receive screenings for diabetes, HIV, dental needs, blood pressure, chiropractic, and public safety. Over 3,500 individuals attended the Latino Health Fair on the grounds of the Rochester Coca-Cola Bottling Company on July 1st, 2007. RPCN identified 375 participants who were uninsured, and staff worked with each of them to find an affordable health plan to meets their specific needs.
We would like to thank our staff, and the 70 individuals who volunteered to work the event, for making it an extremely successful day.
For more information on the 2008 Latino Health Fair, contact Israel Santana at 585-325-2280, ext. 306.
African-American Community Health Fair
RPCN, Action for a Better Community, WellCare, Faith Community Alliance, and the NAACP joined together to organize a health fair targeted to the African American community. The annual event was held Saturday, September 30 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, in the large outdoor parking lot at Unity Health System's Genesee Street Campus.
The event was focused on the special needs of Rochester's African American community, including youth, adults, and seniors. There were health screenings and educational programs, as well as health, wellness, and safety information. The event also featured fun activities for kids, step-team performances, music from church choirs, food, and health-related employee recruitment opportunities.
If you would like information on the 2008 African American Community Health Fair, please contact Freddie Caldwell at Action for a Better Community, 585-325-5116.
Major Renovations Made to Outpatient Clinic
A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony to dedicate the renovations and program expansion for the Northeast Health Center’s move to Rochester General Hospital took place on December 14th. The move and renovation were made possible through the support of Rochester Primary Care Network (RPCN), which appropriated 900,000 dollars for the project.
"RPCN is extremely proud to play a major role in improving the delivery of healthcare to the underserved," says Lou Paris, President/RPCN. "We believe that the new improved location will give better access to healthcare to the underserved. It is our expectation to continue to financially support the endeavors of the Northeast Health Center. We are very excited about their new location, bright patient-friendly facility, handicap accessibility, and bilingual sensitivity."
The Northeast Health Center is located in the outpatient clinic at Rochester General Hospital.
"We want to thank the Rochester Primary Care Network," said Sam Huston, President/CEO, ViaHealth. "Our organizations share a commitment to provide the best possible health care to our community and yet this is yet another visible demonstration of that commitment."
"This project is making a great difference for our patients and staff and will continue to do so in the future."
