August 2010
WASHINGTON – This week, the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee approved Congressman Bill Owens’ funding request for the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) in Watertown. Funding in the amount of $430,000 will be used to maintain a platform to identify and analyze existing healthcare options for soldiers and promote new opportunities for the advancement of medical technology.

“This is a big win for our soldiers, their loved ones and the Fort Drum community.” Owens said. “I congratulate the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and thank them for the tremendous work they do to improve our community’s overall health.”

The program leverages resources, reduces costs, improves communication and increases access to quality care for family members and service members in the Fort Drum region. Ultimately, the project allows the Defense Department to most efficiently provide services to the military and maintain readiness levels needed to ensure national security.

“This funding ensures the success of our mission of greater access to high quality healthcare for our Soldiers, their Families and the civilian residents of the Fort Drum region,” said Denise Young, Executive Director of the health planning organization. “It means that the physicians, hospitals and other health care providers in Jefferson, Lewis and southern St. Lawrence Counties will continue to be supported in their critical work to care for the health of the military and civilian communities of this very special region of our country.”

Now that the subcommittee has approved the funding, it must also be approved by the full committee before it can be brought to the House floor for a vote. Once the bill is passed in the House, it must then be approved by the Senate before it can be considered by the president.

“This is only the first step in the process, but we are fortunate to clear the first hurdle with this program,” added Owens. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure this project continues to move along and is approved by the president.”

http://owens.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=201520

 Congressman Bill Owens Announces Launch of  Fort Drum Region Tele-medical Network

“North Country home to one of the most successful projects in the country.”

The Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and the Development Authority of the North Country have successfully developed a high speed fiber optic network that will improve healthcare for all the residents of the North Country.  

“Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and the Development Authority of the North Country are important parts of our community’s foundation and I applaud their efforts in the development of this project,” said Owens.  “This project will successfully bring multiple health care providers together to ensure that a higher level of quality care is available to the region.  As we go live for the first time here at the North Country Children’s Clinic, I look forward to seeing the same level of success throughout our community.”

The 325 mile high speed healthcare network links 28 healthcare locations across Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence Counties to each other and to the Syracuse and Utica hospitals that provide specialized healthcare to the region.  “The Development Authority’s Open Access Telecommunications Network has brought more than a dozen service providers and their advanced technology offerings to the North Country over the last 5 years. The telemedicine network is another example of how the state of the art infrastructure of our network can support development of vital community services and provide high quality, cost effective and long term benefits to our region and its people.  We commend our partners on their foresight” said Jim Wright, DANC’s Executive Director.

On July 8, 2010, the network partners celebrated the launch of its first medical application, child tele-psychiatry, delivered from Upstate Medical University to the North Country Children’s Clinic.  Denise Young, FDRHPO Executive Director, notes that “the network makes possible a future where local residents won’t have to travel to receive specialized care or follow-up visits.  The bottom line is this saves gas money and travel time and improves quality of life for both our Soldiers and their families and the civilian residents of the North Country”.

As the provider who has worked to launch the first tele-medical application, of many, that will cross the fiber, Aileen Martin, NCCC Executive Director stated “North Country Children’s Clinic is proud that our children’s tele-psychiatry project is the first application on the North Country Telemedicine network. We have long recognized the need for children to receive mental health services in their home community. It’s exciting to be part of a solution”.

Making the network possible took the team work of all five hospitals in the Fort Drum Region including Samaritan Medical Center, Carthage Area Hospital, Lewis County General Hospital, EJ Noble Hospital and River Hospital, the North Country Children’s Clinic, the urban hospitals that serve the regions specialty needs, and the three County Health Departments, all of which are contributing to the local match for the project.  Young offered “kudos to all for showing what real teamwork can accomplish”.

Images from 2010 Tele-Medical Network Press Conference:

Using the interactive map tool below, you can locate a hospital or urgent care facility near you.

ENTER YOUR ADDRESS OR ZIP CODE BELOW TO GET STARTED

“Tip:  Zoom in on map after searching for exact locations.”

Carthage Area Hospital
Human Resource Department
(315) 493-1000 ext. 2338

E.J. Noble Hospital/Kinney Nursing Home
Human Resource Department
(315) 535-9312

Jefferson County EMS
(315) 786-3760

Lewis County General Hospital
Human Resources
(315) 376-5202

North Country Children’s Clinic, Inc.
(315)782-9450

River Hospital
Human Resource Department
315-482-1239

Samaritan Medical Center
Volunteer Services
785-4479
website

Images from 2010 Battlefield Emergency Care training:

Images from our annual meeting: