The Health Care Action Team (HCAT), a work group of the Strategic Planning and Partnerships Commission, was formed to focus on the importance of the economic development impact of the health care sector in our community as well as accessible, high quality health care for our residents.
HCAT membership includes the SPPC co-chairs, members of City Council, SPPC members, physicians, WCA hospital, the Chautauqua County Health Network, the Chautauqua County Health Department, the Resource Center, Jamestown Community College, the Chautauqua County Office of the Aging, Chautauqua Works, the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and foundation representatives.
Initial goals included: Providing a framework to communicate the importance of health care in economic development successful physician recruitment; creating a collaborative strategy for health care delivery; HCAT has brought many partners together and has strengthened working relations. We have collaborated and partnered to achieve solutions; HCAT has developed a common recruitment strategy and received grant funding to be used to incentivize physician recruitment, promote and the physician fills a community need as approved by the action team.
Thus far, two health care organizations have received funds on behalf of three newly recruited physicians filling a high need specialty.
Finally, HCAT has collaborated on a multifaceted "Growing Our Own" program, emphasizing strategies to introduce and encourage our own students in health care. We have worked to provide for shadowing opportunities and medical student rotations. We have arranged for health care provider internships for nurses, physician assistants and others studying to prepare for a health care career.
A grant has been provided for educational programs in area high schools to introduce students to health care opportunities in our area. HCAT recognizes that the greatest potential for successful recruitment and retention often lies within our own reach and many efforts are underway to encourage and assist our own students.
HCAT plans to continue developing a strategic collaboration between the partners on the action team in order to emphasize and improve upon responsible, accountable and collaborative planning for the provision of a high quality and economically energetic healthcare for our community.