areLink

"Unlocking the Door to Healthcare for all"

The CareLink program provides needed health care services to the uninsured/ under-insured residents throughout the NMRHN’s eleven-county service area.  The CareLink partners recognize that a strong safety net improves overall public health; reduces school and work absenteeism; reduces unneeded emergency room visits; and supports patients who need care the most!

The CareLink office, located at 117 W. Potter Avenue in Kirksville, is staffed with a referral coordinator to assist consumers in person or by phone (660-665-3455 or toll-free 877-539-2227) in locating needed health services.  The CareLink Resource Directory, listing over 800 providers and services in northeast Missouri, is available through this website by clicking on the link on the menu bar shown on the left.  The coordinator will also assist in identifying and aid in the enrollment of consumers who may qualify for social assistance programs. 

The Missouri Foundation for Health provided grant funding during 2005 - 2007 which allowed twenty CareLink partner agencies to provide direct care services to the uninsured/underinsured through 40,356 designated ambulatory visits, free screenings, clinics and mental health services.  In addition, 3,531 referrals were made for additional or follow-up care; 1,047 referrals were made to social service, sliding fee scale or other charity health programs; transportation was provided through 2,670 encounters; and, the referral coordinator provided assistance through 5,269 encounters (walk-ins or calls to toll-free number).  A list of partner agencies is shown below.  Learn more about the contracted services provided by the named agencies during the grant funding on the CareLink Partner Activities page.

Another service of the CareLink program, has been to train nearly 100 volunteers as Community Health Advocates throughout the eleven-county region.  The advocates are provided with information on various programs as well as a hard copy of the resource directory which enables them to share information with residents on available services to meet their health care needs.  Contact numbers for the CareLink referral line are also shared with people they come in contact with daily at the grassroots level, in venues such as faith-based organizational work, service clubs, schools and school-centered events, local area merchants, and worksites, etc.  A Community Health Advocate newsletter is also distributed to provide additional information as it becomes available.  To view the newsletters click on one of the links below:

Community Health Advocate News - November 2006

Community Health Advocate News - December 2006

Community Health Advocate News - February 2007

Community Health Advocate News - April 2007

Community Health Advocate News - September 2007

Community Health Advocate News - December 2007

Community Health Advocate News - March 2008

Community Health Advocate News - April 2009

Community Health Advocate News - May 2010

CareLink Partner Agencies

Adair County Health Department                            Putnam County Health Department

Knox County Health Department                            Putnam County Memorial Hospital

Linn County Health Department                              Samaritan Memorial Hospital

Macon County Health Department                          Schuyler County Health Department

Mark Twain Area Counseling Center                       Scotland County Health Department

North Central Missouri Mental Health Center            Scotland County Memorial Hospital                  

Northeast Missouri Health Council                           Sullivan County Health Department

Northeast Regional Medical Center                          Sullivan County Memorial Hospital

Preferred Family Healthcare

…also partnering in 2006 and 2007

Clark County Health Department                                    Shelby County Health Department

Lewis County Health Department

NMRHN Notice of Privacy Practices

“Funding for this project was provided in part by the Missouri Foundation for Health.  The Missouri Foundation for Health is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves.”

A healthcare access and delivery system
for uninsured and underinsured
northeast Missourians

Northeast Missouri Rural Health Network 117 W. Potter Avenue, Kirksville, MO 63501 Phone 660-665-0330 Toll Free 877-539-2227 Fax 660-665-0030 nmrhn@sbcglobal.net