Dear Colleague:
The Northeast Missouri Rural Health Network (NMRHN) has reached an all time high! We have added two more members and have proposed membership to all eleven county ambulance districts which was positively received. At our next Board of Directors meeting on March 2nd we will be finalizing Network bylaws, which is a major element of our Network strategic plan. We will then apply for federal tax-exempt status thereby becoming an independent organization.

Our two new partners are the Sullivan and Macon County Health Departments. We are very excited to welcome our new members and look forward to welcoming the other six county health departments as well as our eleven county ambulance districts in the NMRHN service area in the near future.

As you may recall in the last issue of the Network News (November 1999), the Network Board of Directors was investigating offering a traveling continuing education course project to help our area health providers meet their continuing education requirements. The project was approved! The courses that are to be offered include an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Course, a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Course, a Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC), and an Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC) which has never before been offered in the area. More details regarding this project can be found in the "Education On The Road" article in this issue.

Another Network project includes ongoing involvement in assisting the KCOM Faculty Development and Family Practice Grant promote a series of managed care forums, which began in January. This project evolved due to the positive impression of the Network co-sponsorship of a managed care forum during Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine's (KCOM) Founder's Day events last September.

We are also pleased to report valuable Network relationship building activities occurring with the prenatal care network task force, the PIRMCA group, and Heartland Physicians Corporation. The prenatal care network task force currently includes concerned health care providers spanning seven counties within our service area, and we hope to see the remaining four counties represented in the future. We wish to thank everyone that has offered his/her expertise and time to assist in this planning process, and we look forward to continuing to work with area health providers to develop a strong network. Our next prenatal care network task force meeting will be on Thursday, March 2nd on the KCOM campus. Anyone interested in being a part of this planning effort please contact the Network office right away to be added to our mailing list. The Network has also been working with the PIRMCA group of health care providers representing Sullivan, Putnam, and Mercer Counties to assist with meeting the health care needs of our shared community residents. Ongoing progress continues as well with the Heartland Physicians Corporation (HPC), the local Independent Practice Association (IPA). NMRHN is helping to build a provider network through assisting in HPC development. We will continue to assist with this effort any way we can.

As you can see we have much to be excited about here at NMRHN, and I am sure you will agree there are many tremendous possibilities for continued growth and progress in improving health care delivery in our service area. With your help, we can achieve our mission! Please do not hesitate to offer suggestions and/or comments at any time. We value your support!

Robert Jackson, D.O.
NMRHN Project Director

Beginning in September 1999, the Network began lobbying through Marc D. Smith, President, Missouri Hospital Association (MHA), listing concerns of the Network members regarding the CAH State Plan status and the delay in implementation. Since that time three members, with assistance of the Network staff, have begun to complete CAH applications.

Some of the application components include:

• a formalized networking agreement
• description of the facility's emergency services plan
• community needs assessment (analysis funded by NMRHN)
• financial feasibility study (funded by MHA and NMRHN)
• description of community involvement
• description of professional practice review

After the applications are submitted, the Missouri Department of Health performs an on-site survey and completes an analysis of the applicant facility. The survey is then submitted to the Healthcare Financing Administration (HCFA) for final approval. The time it takes to officially convert after the application has been submitted could take up to two months. To-date two hospitals have successfully converted to a critical access designation in Missouri. These hospitals are Reynolds County Hospital and Ellet Memorial Hospital. Fairfax Community Hospital has submitted their application, but has not been surveyed yet. We have been in contact with a CAH representative at each facility clarifying members' questions as they arise, as well as finding out more about the survey and evaluation process. The Network plans to continue to assist our member facilities through the entire process. We will continue to provide updates on CAHs in future additions of Network News.

NMRHN gives a THUMBS UP to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children campaign of "Endorsement for Enforcement". On May 22-29, 2000, NHTSA will launch a coordinated, nationwide high visibility enforcement effort on drivers who don't buckle up children.

Preserving the health and safety of northeast Missouri is a priority for NMRHN. Crashes are the leading cause of death to American and six out of ten children killed in crashes are completely unrestrained. That's why we are urging zero tolerance for unbuckled kids - and urge you to use every means at your disposal to get kids buckled up.

Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Robert Jackson, D.O., NMRHN Director
Richard Mercer, D.O.
Frank Colton, Ed.D.

Northeast Missouri Health Council
Brooks Miller
Margaret Wilson, D.O.
Joan Brundage

Northeast Regional Health System
Charles M. Boughton
Ranee Brayton
Richard Valuck, D.O.

Hospice 2000
Ron McCullough
Gaylah Sublette

Pershing Memorial Hospital
Phil Hamilton

Putnam County Memorial Hospital
Ray Magers

Sullivan County Memorial Hospital
Martha Gragg

Clark County Health Department
Janet Nixon

Linn County Health Department
Dean Gordon

Macon County Health Department
Ida Taylor

Putnam County Health Department
Nettie Lewis

Sullivan County Health Department
Connie Michael

Network Staff
Tania Sharp, NMRHN Coordinator
Glenna Daniels, Adm. Assistant

The Putnam County Ambulance District utilizied the funding by purchasing two Stryker ambulance transporting cots.

The Sullivan County Ambulance District used the funding to acquire ACLS, EMS and AED training, as well as purchase computer training equipment and CPR manikins.

The NMRHN Board of Directors were pleased to be able to assist the ambulance districts in Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Putnam, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby and Sullivan Counties to improve emergency services for their residents and look forward to working together in the future!

The following continuing education courses are being funded for Network members (NOTE: The educational course dates have been updated since the printing of the newsletter. The dates that follow have been updated.):

Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course, February 24-25, Gutensohn Clinic Room #357, Kirksville

Pediatric Advanced Life Support, March 16-17, Milan Community Center, Milan

Advanced Cardiac Life Support, April 17 & 18, Milan Community Center, Milan

Trauma Nurse Core Course, May 11 & 12, Milan Community Center, Milan

Due to the limited class size and the current demand, Network members will have priority in enrolling their employees. However, if you are interested in any of the courses and wish to be put on the waiting list in case of openings, please contact the Network office at 660-626-2500. Depending on member demand future courses may be offered in different locations.

• Having a voice in regional health care planning?
• Internationally advertising your organization on a personalized Network membership page?
• Obtaining high quality continuing health education for your employees?
• Assistance in applying for grants and/or foundation funds?
• Advertising your organization's events on the Network newsletter member announcement page?

These are just a few of the benefits of being a Northeast Missouri Rural Health Network member. For information on joining, contact the Network Office at 660-626-2500.

• Develop the fundamental competencies sought after by managed care corporations.
• Strengthen your practice through research and analysis.
• Earn category 1-A CME credit.
• Receive a Managed Care Fellowship Certificate reflecting mastery and completion of the program from the College.
• Program costs for KCOM faculty physicians (full-time and adjunct) will be covered by the College and the Faculty Development in Family Medicine Grant.