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2008 Virginia Rural Health Association Annual Conference |
Moving from Plan to Action |
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The Charles Crowder, Jr. Award:
James E. Tyler, Vice President and Hospital CEO of Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital
This award is given annually by the Virginia Rural Health Association to recognize outstanding individual commitment and service to the advancement of rural health in Virginia.
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| This year’s recipient of the Charles D. Crowder, Jr. Award is an advocate for rural health development at the local, state and national level. He has demonstrated over the years, his commitment and drive to improving the delivery of health care in rural health. He has worked diligently to ensure that Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital is able to meet the ever increasing needs of his community. He worked diligently to erase a budget deficit of more than one million dollars. Today, the hospital is now more than 100% above budget and operating with a surplus. In addition to his outstanding work at the hospital, he is a 2008 National Rural Health Fellow, actively involved in the Rural Hospital Advisory Board for the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, has developed and oversees many collaborative relationships with the health care community to expand access and coverage for the underserved. |
James Tyler with VRHA President Kirk Ballin |
The Best Practices in Rural Health Award: Eastern Shore Rural Health System
This award is given annually by the Virginia Rural Health Association to recognize a program or institution that exemplifies commitment and service to the advancement of rural health in Virginia. |
| This year’s recipient is an organization that has a 33 years history of improving access to health care to 25,000 residents on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. This organization operates five community health centers and three dental locations from Cape Charles in the south to Chincoteague in the north. The Eastern Shore Rural Health System dreams of turning sick care into health care for everyone. To that end, they serve both insured and uninsured patients. They offer a holistic, comprehensive form of healthcare by focusing on individuals as well as families. Eastern Shore Rural Health System serves to meet the needs of the community. Recently, Eastern Shore implemented an electronic health records system. Electronic Health Records enables Eastern Shore’s health care providers computer access to the medical records of their patients begin treated at four hospitals. Eastern Shore serves as a best practice model for rural health centers and providers across the state and country on how to implement electronic health records. |
Nancy Stern, Chief Executive Officer
Eastern Shore Rural Health System, Inc. |
Friend of the Association: South Atlantic Division of the American Cancer Society
This award is given to recognize a program, institution or individual that has advocated for or aided the Association in support of the Association's mission. |
The South Atlantic Division of the American Cancer Society and its staff has shown great support of the Virginia Rural Health Association. Several years ago, the South Atlantic Division, which is comprised of Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Washington DC, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, decided that they needed to focus their energy and resources on the rural areas of the division. To that end, they pro-actively contacted the Virginia Rural Health Association and asked how the two organizations could work together to better meet the needs of rural Virginia.
Collaborations have included the promotion of the Virginia Rural Health Association at the ACS South Atlantic Division 2006 Spit Tobacco conference and the 2007 Appalachian Health conference. ACS staff members have made presentations to the VRHA student members at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine to help the students understand what resources will be available to them as they start practice in rural areas. Additionally, the division has designated a staff member to serve on the Virginia Rural Health Association board of directors to increase communication between the two organizations. |
ACS Rural Health Initiatives Director
Diana Harrison
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| Most recently, the ACS South Atlantic Division sponsored a summer intern at the VRHA office. This supplied VRHA staff with much needed support during the beginning stages of implementing the State Rural Health Plan. If it is true that ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’, then the American Cancer Society South Atlantic Division has been a true friend of the Virginia Rural Health Association. |
| Click here to read about previous winners. |
