Becky Robbins, Dr. Lillian Ney, and Katie Geise
Becky Robbins introduced someone who is well known to Rotary and our fine community, Dr. Lillian Ney!
Dr. Ney, a former cardiologist and WCA Medical Director gave a wonderful and informative presentation about the Heath Care Action Team (HCAT). HCAT is a subcommittee of the city strategic planning and partnerships commission. The strategic planning and partnerships commission started when Dr. Ney was on the Gebbie Foundation board. Dr. Ney and Phillip Morris, who was on the city council, recognized the need to public-private partnerships. This initiative was very instrumental in securing funding for the train station moving the urban design plan forward. This initiative was birthed by thinking outside the box. Dr. Ney reminded us that we need to step outside of our silos!
HCAT was birthed to recognize the need to pursue more physicians and fill a physician shortage in the area. Patients were traveling elsewhere for their health care. Dr. Ney was asked to chair the HCAT commission and she obliged. The actions team’s priority was physician recruitment. HCAT secured money from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, and the Sheldon and Lenna Foundations.
This grant money was used as incentive for organizations to recruit physicians to the local area. The money always went to the organization and not the physician and was used by the organizations for loan repayment or transport fees. The HCAT initiative was successful in bring 8 physicians to this area.
Another one of HCAT's initiatives was to start targeting young people in high school who were interested in health care. The main impetus is to try and encourage young people to stay in our region and build a career. The program is called “Grow your Own.” Mentoring of young people and being a leader to young people is critical to see meaningful change in communities.
At this point in time, HCAT has moved from physician recruitment to a pressing public health issue, the opioid crisis in our county. Education and increasing awareness of this serious problem is very important. The HCAT team hosted a drug forum at JCC about a year and half ago and the response was tremendous. The current drug epidemic deserves a big response and collaboration in the community.
Dr. Ney believes that HCAT is still viable and is a needed service, although she sees a decreasing need because of UPMC’s involvement in the community. Because UPMC is a national health care name, they can bring greater depth in the ability to recruit physicians and other health care professionals.
HCAT also partnered on a video called “Hello Jamestown.” This is a wonderful testament to what this community offers and what it can provide. Please click on the video below to view.