WHAT IS A RURAL HEALTH NETWORK?

Rural Health Community Systems, Inc. is a rural health network funded by the New York State Department of Health Office of Rural Health.

A rural health network is an organization that brings together previously separated and independent groups of resources, agencies and associations. Under the auspices of a rural health network, these groups coordinate, combine, and support various administrative activities including identifying, addressing, resolving, and monitoring measures that fill the health care service gaps in their area.

The integration of these discrete, but peer organizations means a commitment of time, personnel, capital, and other resources to the endeavors or projects. Partners in a rural health network agree to abide by planning decisions made jointly or to perform according to externally imposed guidelines.

A rural health network is a formal organizational arrangement among rural health care and human service providers. Rural Health Community Systems uses the resources of more than one existing organization and specifies the objectives and methods by which various collaborative functions will be achieved.

By formal, we mean explicit and legal. Rural Health Community Systems, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation. We have a Board of Partners composed of a variety of health and human service providers. Rural Health Community Systems, Inc. Partners contribute resources (money, space, time, expertise) to the rural health network. These partners, who are already existing organizations, together create organizations and/or activities of the network.

Rural health networks are purposeful. Rural Health Community Systems is more than our mission statement. R.H.C.S. is productive. The network has a plan of action with goals, objectives and activities to meet those outcomes.

The Rural Health Community Systems Partners, like members of any rural health network, come together voluntarily to achieve certain objectives. Each partner retains its autonomy, and the roles and responsibilities of members and the purposes of the network correspond to the health care needs of the local community.