The Finger Lakes region embraces primary care 2.0

The Finger Lakes region embraces primary care 2.0

For the past four years, sixty five primary care practices—about a third of the region’s primary care providers—have partnered with Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency on an uncharted journey to make our medical system as good at preventing medical emergencies as it is at treating them. The $26.6 million experiment in primary care innovation is showing how teamwork and smart data can improve patient care and reduce costs.

Albany update: health care reform creates opportunities, challenges

Albany update: health care reform creates opportunities, challenges

Health care reform continues at a frenetic pace, creating opportunities for providers and patients but also a challenging clinical environment, our Albany consultant reported June 12. 

Mobile Summer Meals pilot builds off spike in number of Summer Meals served in 2015

Mobile Summer Meals pilot builds off spike in number of Summer Meals served in 2015

Three years of a coordinated, communitywide effort to get more youth in the city of Rochester to participate in free summer meals paid off with a 24.3 percent increase in meals served in 2015.

Rochester hospitals honored for population health efforts

Rochester hospitals honored for population health efforts

Strong Memorial, Highland, Rochester General and Unity hospitals were honored with HANYS’ Community Health Improvement Award for their support of the High Blood Pressure Collaborative.

Number of children reported lead poisoned grows from previous year

Number of children reported lead poisoned grows from previous year

As the number of children reported poisoned by lead grows from last year, officials urged a continuation of local prevention efforts, including aggressive code enforcement of rental properties and screenings for one- and two-year-olds.

Network offers medical practices a running start on new value-based payments

Network offers medical practices a running start on new value-based payments

To get ahead of a shift from volume to value-based payments for medical services, Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency and the New York eHealth Collaborative are recruiting primary care, pediatrics and specialty care providers to take part in New York State’s new Practice Transformation Network.

Conference helps churches make health ministries more effective

Conference helps churches make health ministries more effective

Building on the success of their 2015 men’s health conference, this year’s Interdenominational Health Ministry Conference focused on health as a spiritual matter and the connection among mind, body and spirit. The conference is part of IHMC’s ongoing work to encourage local health ministries and was sponsored in part by a grant from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation and was supported by Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency.

Heroin overdoses climb as pain killer overdoses drop in the Finger Lakes region

Heroin overdoses climb as pain killer overdoses drop in the Finger Lakes region

The spike in heroin overdoses in our region between 2012 and 2014 was accompanied by a marked decline in overdoses from prescription pain medications, according to a study of hospital admissions and emergency department visits by Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency.

Rochester receives Playful City USA designation

Rochester receives Playful City USA designation

For the first time, Rochester is being honored with a 2016 Playful City USA designation. The national recognition, given by KABOOM, honors cities and towns across the country for making their cities more playable.

Practice honored nationally for blood pressure control

Practice honored nationally for blood pressure control

A High Blood Pressure Collaborative primary care practice was honored nationally for helping its patients achieve hypertension control. Rochester Regional Health’s Unity Family Medicine at St. Bernard’s was named a 2015 Hypertension Control Champion by the national Million Hearts initiative.

Neighborhood traffic safety perceptions are linked with health outcomes

Neighborhood traffic safety perceptions are linked with health outcomes

Kids in the City of Rochester are more likely to be hit by cars than in other parts of Monroe County, which may prevent families from allowing them to play outside, according to one of several new data briefs from Healthi Kids. 

Aging expert calls for 'all hands on deck' to meet seniors' care needs

Aging expert calls for 'all hands on deck' to meet seniors' care needs

Recognizing that there will be too few geriatricians to meet the needs of our growing senior population, the medical community needs to train and make use of the talents all those who come into contact with seniors, including family caregivers and non-medical professionals, said renowned geriatrics expert Jennie Chin Hansen.