History
The origin story of the Healthcare Consortium is a great one. It begins over twenty-five years ago with a group of stakeholders—some from the public sector, some from the private, and all concerned citizens—who recognized the challenges that Columbia County residents were facing when trying to access healthcare services. What made their work marvelous is that they didn’t merely identify problems, they set about solving them. They created something where there was nothing, giving birth to an organization that lives to this day. To these parents of the organization, who had the vision, commitment and perseverance to make their ideas real, we are indebted.
Thereafter, some of the people involved at the outset continued to serve the organization in governance roles, along with many others who have joined our large and active Board since. Governing a not-for-profit organization is no light matter or minor commitment; it’s time, when there’s never enough, it’s attention, when there are competing demands, and it requires care, when there are lots of other things worthy of care. To these caretakers of the organization, who have shepherded it through the past many years, we are also indebted.
And then there’s the staff, both past and present, those on this earth and beyond it. Any impact we have made has been earned by the tough, dedicated, resourceful, purpose-driven professionals who have worked the mission on a daily basis. To these keepers of the organization, whose efforts cemented our reputation and reinforced our value, we are most indebted.
And lastly, we are grateful to the wider community—the residents of Columbia and Greene Counties, whom we serve, the public agencies and community-based organizations that are our invaluable partners, and the funders and supporters that make our work possible. It is our fervent wish that we may continue to serve you, to partner with you, and to be worthy of your support for many more years to come!
Timeline of Significant Milestones and Achievements
2017:
March: CARTS reaches the two million miles traveled mark!
November: The Foundation for Community Health awards the Consortium $25,000 to support CARTS’ ongoing operations.
2015:
Fall: The Consortium develops a partnership with the Columbia County Department of Health’s Migrant Program, utilizing staff from both Cancer Services and Navigator Programs.
2014:
December: The Foundation for Community Health awards the Consortium $50,000 to purchase a new minibus for the CARTS program.
2013:
January: The Foundation for Community Health, based in Sharon, CT, awards the Consortium a grant to administer the Children’s Mental Health Services Project in the Taconic Hills (Columbia County) school district.
August: The New York State Department of Health awards the Healthcare Consortium a contract to serve as In-Person Assistors/Navigators for Columbia and Greene Counties.
2012:
September: The United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awards the Consortium a one-year planning grant to explore the feasibility of establishing a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in or around Hudson.
2010:
June: Berkshire-Taconic Foundation helps fund Assuring Your Wishes, an on-line program that allows individuals to record and store their health care proxy in a secure environment on-line for easy retrieval by health care professionals if needed.
2009:
January: The Healthy People Partnership transitions into the Cancer Services Program of Columbia and Greene.
July: The Healthcare Consortium partners with Columbia Memorial Hospital to bring mobile dental services to children and adults in Greene County.
November: The Healthcare Consortium begins coordination of NY Connects, Columbia County, an information and referral service for individuals with long term care needs.
2008:
Spring : The Healthy People Partnership combines the Breast And Cervical Cancer Screening program (Healthy Women Partnership) and the more recent Colorectal Cancer Screening program into one cancer services program serving both Columbia and Greene Counties.
2007:
January: The Healthcare Consortium is awarded the first New York State grant for Colorectal Cancer Screening and Education for Columbia and Greene counties.
Winter: The Cancer Support Program is expanded to include separate emphasis for serving two diverse groups in Columbia and Greene Counties: children and adults.
2006:
March: The Healthcare Consortium becomes coordinator for Long-Term Care Insurance Education and Outreach.
October : The Healthcare Consortium is awarded a second Ovarian Cancer Awareness and Education grant.
2005:
February: The Healthcare Consortium adds the Prescription Access and Referral Program for eligible Columbia County residents. The Program later expands to serve residents of Greene and Northern Dutchess Counties as well.
2004:
The Healthcare Consortium is awarded a 3-year grant from the NYS Nutrition Consortium to help identify and assist eligible individuals and families in Columbia and Greene enroll for Food Stamp Benefits.
2003:
Early: The Columbia-Greene Diabetes Coalition becomes the local chapter of the Greater Capital Region Coalition for Diabetes Prevention and Control with The Healthcare Consortium as coordinating agency.
Winter: The Facilitated Enrollment Program began assisting residents in the twin counties to enroll in Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Medicaid. This program was ultimatley renamed “Covering the Uninsured.”
Spring: The Healthcare Consortium is awarded 2 grants from NYSDOH Bureau of Chronic Diseases: Ovarian Cancer Awareness and Cancer Support Services to residents of the twin counties.
2001:
January: Rip Van Winkle Tobacco-Free Coalition is born when NYSDOH awards funding to The Healthcare Consortium.
Spring: The Healthcare Consortium is named coordinating and fiscal agent for the Columbia County Healthy Women Partnership. Free breast and cervical exams are available to qualifying women.
2000:
September: CARTS passes the 50,000-miles-traveled milestone–in only 1-1/2 years!
December: Received the first of 3 grants to start The Children’s Dental Health Partnership.
1999:
February: The Columbia County Health Services Directory was mailed to over 30,000 households.
March: The Healthcare Consortium begins operating the CARTS Medical Transportation Service to provide service to Columbia County residents with barriers to transportation.
1998:
January: The Columbia County Community Healthcare Consortium was formed.
1997:
July: A rural health network development grant was awarded to Columbia Memorial Hospital as lead agent.