April 2020 Common Ground Newsletter

April 2020

Local planners want to know whether you use the Erie Canalway trail, which is part of the 750-mile Empire State Trail network. If you don't use the trail, we also want to learn why.

We want to improve the trail to make it welcoming and accessible for all residents, regardless of physical ability, gender, income, race or ethnicity. Share your experiences through our short online survey, so everyone can benefit from your insights.

Findings will be included in Common Ground Health’s fourth Health Impact Assessment. Learn more and take the survey.

Online 'hubs' connect organizations fighting COVID-19

Are you a human services provider? Where have you found success getting PPE? What are your greatest concerns with reopening to the public?

Learn about concerns and solutions from other human services providers on two local hubs, the Human Services Support Hub for Monroe County and the Finger Lakes COVID-19 Resources Hub for counties outside of Monroe County.

In a time of increased challenges for organizations, the hubs help agencies share resource and needs to speed problem solving, pass on state and federal updates and eliminate structural barriers to serving communities in our region. Learn how to join the conversation.

A salute to our practice transformation team

After eight years of supporting innovation in clinical care, our Practice Transformation team wrapped up its work at the end of March 2020. All told, the program coached more than 1,000 providers and brought in $32 million to help medical practices adopt new approaches to improving care. 

“The team provided critical support to primary care practices during a period of tremendous change in the health care,” said Dr. Thomas Mahoney, Common Ground Health’s chief medical officer. “Through their hard work, team-based care has become the norm at medical offices throughout our area and data is used to drive improvement.

Partner spotlight:
The Greater Rochester LARC Initiative

Kudos to the Greater Rochester LARC Initiative partners who collaborated to increase teens’ access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), potentially preventing unplanned pregnancies, according to a new study.

From 2014 to 2017, LARC Initiative presenters gave 81 talks about the safety, efficacy and availability of free LARC services to more than 1300 adults in community and medical settings. From 2013-2017, teen LARC use locally rose from an estimated 4% to 24%.

“This collaboration proves that in-person presentations from trusted sources continue to be a powerful way to share best practices and improve care,” said Wade Norwood, CEO of Common Ground. Learn more.

What we're watching:

Maintaining normal and positive family routines during COVID-19, a Facebook conversation from Golisano Children’s Hospital

What we're coloring:

These Protect Your Circle coloring pages from artist Shawn Dunwoody, which are part of the Protect Your Circle/Stay Home and Save Lives campaign.

Take action on the 2020 Census now 

Have you filled out the 2020 Census yet? Census data are used to distribute federal funds, in public health research and to guide planning for health care facilities. Currently, Monroe County leads all of the nine counties in the Finger Lakes region with a self-response rate of 56.5 percent, and the county is seventh in the state in terms of response. Please encourage your friends and organizational partners to respond to the census. Everyone counts! Learn more about response rates here.

In the headlines

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Rochester's Black, Latino residents suffering more from coronavirus Related: News 10 NBC Minority Reporter

13 WHAM Families asking for numbers from officials about coronavirus cases in nursing homes Related: 13 WHAM Minority Reporter WROC-TV

Programming Librarian Blog: Multi-sectoral coalitions for health: Bringing public libraries to the table

Minority Reporter Knowing COVID-19 facts is part of staying safe