About

The Healthcare Consortium is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1998 to serve the rural community in and around Columbia County. The Healthcare Consortium’s mission is to improve access to healthcare services and support the health and well-being of the people in our rural community.

The Healthcare Consortium recognizes that people confront a number of barriers when trying to access care. These barriers can be physical, such as a lack of transportation, financial, such as a lack of health insurance or the ability to manage out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, and practical, such as a lack of knowledge and familiarity with our complex and often opaque health and human service systems. Through a variety of programs and services, The Healthcare Consortium helps people to get and stay healthy by dismantling barriers to care.

The work of the Consortium is generally focused on the residents of Columbia and Greene Counties, though occasionally, we serve people in neighboring counties, too. In one way or another, we wind up serving individuals of every age, gender, income, race/ethnicity, ability, and language. It is a nice feature of the organization that we are able to serve such a diverse group of community members across the lifespan.

We have a variety of programs, which we hope you will explore on our Programs and Services page, that are guided by the following core values:

VALUES:

  • Access to quality health care is a fundamental right of every individual.
  • Individuals are primarily responsible for their own health care decisions and require information and education to fulfill their role effectively.
  • Collaboration and provision of preventive and wellness services have long term efficiencies.

In addition to the programs and services that the Consortium’s staff provides directly to residents, we have long served as one of New York State’s Rural Health Networks. As such, we created and sustain a formal partnership among many public agencies, our local hospital and its health system, providers of mental health, addiction, disability, and long-term care services, organizations focused on food security, faith-based institutions, and businesses, all of which commit to developing strategies to improve healthcare in our rural community. Called “Network Members,” each organization is represented on the Consortium’s Board of Directors, which also includes healthcare consumers, in order to ensure that we foster positive and productive working relationships, exchange information, and promote collaboration on a regular basis. See our impressive roster of Network Members on our Network Member page.

In 2024, select members of our Board and staff participated in a series of strategic planning sessions to plot a course for the next three years. The 2025-2027 Strategic Plan that emerged from these efforts is a recommitment to working directly with and on behalf of the residents of Columbia and Greene Counties to dismantle barriers to care so they can get and stay healthy. The Plan outlines four broad goals. As we pursue these goals, we will strive to center the needs and experiences of our clients, strengthen our relationship to the rural communities we serve, foster a positive workplace culture, and secure the resources needed to advance our mission.

Our 2025 – 2027 Goals:

Preserve and Enhance Our Core Functions

We will preserve and enhance our core functions by delivering high-quality services to the residents of Columbia and Greene Counties and by seizing opportunities to add new services whenever we can. Furthermore, we will enhance our impact by fostering collaboration among the health and social care providers in our Network, and by promoting systems thinking. As a trusted convener and facilitator, we will lead responsive group assessment and planning efforts while providing technical assistance and support to our Network Members.

Communicate Our Value

We will communicate the value we bring to our community by widely sharing how we help clients dismantle barriers to care and achieve better health outcomes. Furthermore, we will create greater awareness and connection with our clients, partners and supporters by showing our leadership on key issues and reinforcing our service to both Columbia and Greene Counties. Through clear, inclusive messaging and diverse communication strategies, we will ensure our impact feels visible, understandable, and valued by the communities we serve.

Sustain Our Workforce

We will sustain our workforce by attracting mission-driven individuals, fostering a positive workplace culture, and offering competitive compensation so our staff feel valued, supported, and engaged. Furthermore, we will focus on staffing that supports both current operations and future expansion to ensure the continuity of services and our ongoing success.

Grow Our Support

We will grow our support by deepening connections with existing partners and welcoming new ones, including foundations, businesses, and individuals. By expanding our network and increasing awareness of our impact, we will create more opportunities for investment in our work. By scaling up thoughtfully and carefully, we will ensure that we can continue to serve our community in an efficient, effective, and sustainable way.