FDRHPO Year-in-Review Highlights Accomplishments, Health Initiatives
- hboname
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) had a strong and fulfilling year of accomplishments across its many initiatives that include EMS education, IT services, population health, behavioral health, workforce development, and regional collaboration.
“As you will read, none of these accomplishments would be possible without the collaborative spirit of the North Country healthcare system,” said Erika Flint, Executive Director for FDRHPO. “We are grateful to play the role of planning and convening such meaningful work across the region.”
FDRHPO’s EMS Program Agency hosted multiple educational events, including EMS Education Day, Fort Drum EMS Day, and the 2025 Spring Fling Conference, drawing more than 170 providers from across the region. Training opportunities on the Learning Management System (LMS) continued to grow, with more than 5,300 courses completed for CME credit. In addition, the EMS Program Agency expanded Opioid Overdose Prevention efforts by distributing MATTERS Kits with Narcan to EMS providers in Clinton, Essex, and Washington counties.
At the annual New York State Vital Signs Conference, attendees examined statewide EMS research projects, including a year-long quality improvement study presented by FDRHPO EMS Clinical Coordinator Amanda Slate. Her project aimed to enhance the collection of vital signs during patient refusals and achieved an 18 percent improvement in complete vital sign acquisition through collaboration with Carthage Area Rescue Squad and Lewis County Search and Rescue.
FDRHPO’s IT Managed Services Program grew with the addition of two new healthcare clients seeking cybersecurity, network management, and specialized IT support. In response to rising demand, staff also obtained a Fire and Security Alarm license, expanding service offerings to include door access and security camera installation.
Though a grant focused on digital equity, ConnectALL, Adirondack Health Institute (AHI) and FDRHPO launched the North Country Digital Inclusion Coalition, bringing together regional partners to address barriers to telehealth and promote sustainable, accessible digital solutions.
In partnership with the North Country Initiative (NCI), the Northern Regional Center for Independent Living (NRCIL), and FDRHPO supported the placement of five full-time Community Health Workers (CHW) in eight primary care sites across Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. CHWs engaged 754 individuals, completed 343 social needs screenings, made 298 referrals, and addressed both clinical and immediate needs for patients. Primary care and behavioral health partners also provided 1,368 transitional care management and 1,002 chronic care management services for Medicaid beneficiaries, supported by close to $170,000 in reimbursement from NCI and FDRHPO. NCI additionally advanced the region’s first value-based behavioral health contract, supporting care for more than 3,200 individuals.
Workforce development efforts have also expanded significantly. Winter MASH Camp offered six sessions across five locations for 58 students, and Summer MASH Camp received a record 139 applications. Scrubs Clubs grew to seven clubs in four districts, serving 119 students, with additional expansion planned.
FDRHPO also collaborated with Jefferson-Lewis BOCES to develop the first accelerated Practical Nursing Program for Army Medics (68W) in New York State, reducing completion time to five months and beginning its inaugural class in 2026. Another major win for healthcare career workforce development was through the Caring Gene Career Pathways Training program. FDRHPO worked with 138 individuals to onboard them into the program and provided educational support to begin or advance healthcare careers.
In behavioral health, FDRHPO partnered with the New York State Office of Mental Health to bring TRUST train-the-trainer programming to the tri-county region, resulting in 20 new local trainers. The organization also worked with county partners, emergency personnel, and the Children’s Home of Jefferson County to develop a Bi-County Mobile Crisis Implementation and Outreach Plan and launched the “You Are Not Alone” campaign to promote hotline awareness. Additionally, FDRHPO coordinated regular multidisciplinary discharge planning meetings with regional hospitals and community providers to support safe transitions for individuals leaving inpatient mental health care.
FDRHPO led the 2025 CHA/CHIP process for all three counties, guiding research, community engagement, and development of aligned health improvement plans under the redesigned New York State Prevention Agenda. Preventive screening initiatives contributed to strong regional outcomes, with colorectal screening rates rising to 85 percent and mammography screening rates holding steady at 80 percent. The Pediatric Oral Health Initiative distributed over 2,300 dental hygiene kits, 2,300 fluoride varnish kits, and 5,100 educational brochures to support children’s oral health across the region.
FDRHPO staff also continued community engagement efforts through the “Casual for a Cause” initiative, supporting the Compassionate Care Foundation and the Jefferson County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Employees at FDRHPO also selected 19 children from the Tunes 92.5 Angel Tree during the holidays to fulfill their Christmas wishes.
Continuing its strong partnership with Fort Drum, FDRHPO welcomed COL Elizabeth Duque as the new Commander of Guthrie Army Health Clinic and participated in Fort Drum Albany Day, engaging state leaders to highlight the partnership between the 10th Mountain Division, New York State, and the North Country region.
To view the complete Year-in-Review, click the file below: