Article published in the BCR, access at: https://www.bcrnews.com/2019/08/14/rural-health-network-grant-awarded-to-c4-rural/axr1rul/

The Arukah Institute of Healing, Inc. was recently chosen as one of 25 rural healthcare organizations across the nation, and the only organization in the State of Illinois, to receive a Rural Health Network Development Planning grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The purpose of the grant is to promote the planning and development of integrated healthcare networks; to expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services; and to strengthen the rural health care system as a whole.

Joining Arukah are Perry Memorial Hospital, St. Margaret’s Health, Northcentral Behavioral Health System, and Open Doors Counseling/Gateway Services. An Advisory Committee consisting of Dr. Helen Lavretsky and Dr. Peipei Ping both from the UCLA School of Medicine, and Patricia Schou from the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network will aid in the strategic process. Together the partners will be working on strategies to increase access to mental health services by integrating evidence-based complementary healthcare services with existing mental health services, to expand treatment options, improve outcomes, increase patient satisfaction and buy-in, and reduce costs.

Dr. Sarah B. Scruggs, Executive Director of Arukah, and Project Director for C4-Rural, remarks, “This is a tremendous opportunity for innovating behavioral healthcare in our area. The purpose of this effort is to bring all providers to the same table to discuss how we can integrate our services, develop patient-centered care plans, and best see patients all the way through to wellness. Accessing mental health services in rural areas such as ours is often difficult. We want to streamline the process of getting help for patients; they should be able to receive services when they need them, without glaring barriers standing in their way. I am incredibly grateful for our Network Partners—current and future—who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table; I look forward to breaking new ground with them over the next 12 months and beyond.”

The second network partner meeting took place at Perry Memorial Hospital in Princeton. The discussion focused around the barriers to mental health from the perspective of both clinicians (primary care physicians, behavioral health therapists) and patients. Discussion was led by Angella Hughes, LCPC, Director of the Senior Behavioral Wellness Program at Perry Memorial Hospital.

Slides from August 28 Meeting

The 3rd Network Partner Meeting took place at St. Margaret’s Health in Spring Valley. The discussion first focused around the key aspects of Rural Health Networks, contrasting collaborative partnerships with formal Rural Health Networks. The second part of the meeting focused on Integrative Behavioral Healthcare, and Network Partners discussed how they together wanted to define their integrative network. Dr. Scruggs presented the evidence base on effectiveness and successes of existing behavioral health integrative models and frameworks. Kerri Donahue, RN and Lisa Clinton, RN from St. Margaret’s Health facilitated the final part of the discussion, discussing social determinants and the different types of services and providers that may be key to achieving the goals of our network.

Slides from September 25 Meeting — I

Slides from September 25 Meeting — II

The October meeting involved an important discussion and Network Partner concensus on the first target population of C5-Rural’s focus. The group achieved consensus that ages 16-24 yrs. represents a highly vulnerable population in rural areas. Discussion followed on the specific social determinants of health that were barriers to mental health for this age group. Accordingly, the group voted on a list of essential Network Partners that would be invited to the table to help establish Network Entry Points and valuable stakeholders. Network Partners also approved by-laws and developed the C5-Rural’s value proposition.

The November meeting involved a lively discussion by Network Partners on data management development. Partners discussed what data indices were important to them as clinicians, as educators, as healthcare administrators, and as industry partners. Partners discussed how our data workflows and management could best support our value proposition and our diverse stakeholders. Network Partners also celebrated the submission of their implementation application, which had occured on November 25th.

The December meeting was a wonderful celebration of 6 months of progress as a Network. Partners gathered together for a delicious working lunch at Four-and-Twenty Cafe in Princeton, and they discussed and celebrated the good work acomplished as a Network over the first half of the year.

Slides from December 18 Meeting

The January meeting was held at Northcentral Behavioral Health Systmes. At this meeting, partners were guided on how to conduct an external environmental scan to decipher threats and opportunities for our Network at the local, state and federal level. The second half of the meeting consisted of hearing from an invited speaker and key expert in behavioral heatlh, Michael Ward, Network Director of the Behavioral Health Network of South Lake Tahoe.

Agenda for Meeting

Environmental Scan Introduction

The February meeting was held at Perry Memorial Hospital. Members congregated to discuss the data indices that would be used to screen, assess, monitor, and track the health and healing of our diverse population groups. Concensus was achieved among all members to ensure data strategies were standardized.

Meeting Agenda

At our March meeting, Lori Knutson from Duke Center for Integrative Medicine planned to speak to our group, but unfortunately with COVID-19, this talk was cancelled. The partners met and checked in with one another to see how their organizations were weathering the pandemic.

Meeting Agenda

At our April meeting, members met virtually due to COVID-19. Members brainstormed how to implement a pilot study amidst COVID to test the feasibility of our network. Although plans changed, members were able to pivot and redesign various aspects of the pilot to coordinate with COVID precautions.

Meeting Agenda