The Adirondack Rural Health Network (ARHN), a program of AHI, works in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Warren, and Washington counties undertaking community health activities that are best accomplished through collective efforts focusing on health problems of greatest concern, addressing the health needs of underserved populations, and adding value to the regional health care system by furthering the NYS Prevention Agenda and DSRIP.
For the second year in a row ARHN has partnered with public health departments and hospitals on projects to address health inequalities in New York State as outlined in the Prevention Agenda. This year’s projects were focused on three priority areas.
Prevent Chronic Disease Priority Area
- Essex County Public Health sent two staff members to become Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Coaches. These staff members are now able to perform diabetes screenings and educate the community on diabetes and prediabetes.
- Glens Falls Hospital collaborated with SUNY Adirondack to inventory and create maps of local farm stands in an effort to increase awareness and access to healthy, fresh, locally-grown produce. Forty-four farm stands were identified and 1000 maps were created and distributed.
Promote a Health and Safe Environment Priority Area
- Washington County Public Health held a Senior Safety Day to provide education and hands-on experience of evidence-based practices to reduce the risk of falls and promote safety in the senior population.
Promote Healthy Women, Infants, and Children Priority Area
- Adirondack Health connected women to health care resources and provided information on women’s health with the publishing and distribution of their “Woman’s Moments in Life” booklet.
- Alice Hyde Medical Center sent two staff members to become Certified Lactation Counselors. These staff members can now assist the community by promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding.
- Nathan Littauer Hospital’s Baby Box program, accessible to all expecting and new parents regardless of socio-economic status, concentrated on reducing infant mortality rate by empowering families with essential information for proper care of newborns.
- Warren County Public Health provided education on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome by creating and distributing literature. They also facilitated webinars on pain management for pregnant and laboring women who have a dependency on opioids and on Finnegan Scoring for providers.
Below are links to partner websites involved in this initiative:
NYSDOH Prevention Agenda: https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/prevention_agenda/2013-2017/tracking_indicators.htm
Essex County Health Department: https://www.co.essex.ny.us/ecph/
Glens Falls Hospital: https://www.glensfallshospital.org/
Washington County Public Health: http://www.co.washington.ny.us/292/Public-Health-Nursing
Adirondack Health: https://adirondackhealth.org/
Alice Hyde Medical Center: http://www.alicehyde.com/
Nathan Littauer Hospital: http://www.nlh.org/
Warren County Health Services: http://www.warrencountyny.gov/healthservices/public.php
