More than 200 professionals from nine North Country counties and beyond attended AHI’s 9th Annual Summit, Population Health in the Rural Landscape, on September 21, 2017, in Lake Placid.
The event was well-received by attendees who had an opportunity to network, learn and share successes and challenges pertaining to effectively serving rural populations. Slightly more than 98 percent of attendees rated their overall satisfaction with the summit as “excellent” or “good.”
Dr. Amy Boutwell of Collaborative Healthcare Strategies provided the keynote presentation, Designing and Delivering Whole-Person Transitional Care, highlighting the unique aspects that rural communities draw on to successfully reduce avoidable hospital and emergency department use by focusing on the whole person.
Gregory Allen, Director of the Division of Program Development and Management at the NYS DOH, engaged the audience with a discussion about the challenges associated with preparing for a transition to a value-based payment system in a rural region.
Panel discussions included DSRIP: Strategies in Action, moderated by Dr. Carolyn Wong Simpkins of Health Catalyst, which focused on the development of an integrated delivery system involving innovative, multidisciplinary collaborations; Tackling Social Determinants of Health, moderated by Jessica Chanese, AHI’s Community Engagement Manager, where panelists shared innovative approaches to improve health outcomes; and Partnering to Improve Health, a panel involving public health experts, moderated by Sylvia Pirani of the NYS DOH, which shared how fostering the spirit and culture of collaboration has led to strong, positive, and sustainable outcomes for involved agencies in the communities they serve.
Among other topics, breakout sessions covered health equity and equality, COPD and Diabetes treatment, child and adolescent mental health, leadership, and community engagement and partnerships.
This year’s Rural Health Champions in attendance at the event – Dr. Irina Gelman, Fulton County Public Health, Kim Cook of the Open Door, and Carol Byron, Glens Falls Hospital – were honored by the Adirondack Rural Health Network (ARHN), a program of AHI.
Visit the AHI 2017 Summit web page for presentation slide decks, photos, and more.
