Hamilton Center recognized
Each year, the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) recognizes remarkable rural health individuals and/or programs with awards presented during the Association's Annual Conference.
The Indiana Rural Health Association's mission is to enhance the health and well being of rural populations in Indiana through leadership, education, advocacy, collaboration, and resource development. In accordance with their mission, awards are being given in those categories.
Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health in Terre Haute nominated Hamilton Center for the advocacy award, and the award was presented to Hamilton Center representatives at IRHA's conference on June 14 and 15.
Noted the nomination, "In 2007, Hamilton Center formed a collaborative partnership with Union Hospital's Richard G. Lugar Center for Rural Health to integrate a tele-mental health program to the Vigo County Correctional Facility and a local critical access hospital emergency department (Union Hospital Clinton). Due to the project's proved success, the model was replicated to additional critical access hospital sites throughout the region over the course of the past year due to generous grant funds made possible from the State Office of Rural Health. These sites include: Sullivan County Community Hospital, Greene County General Hospital, Putnam County Hospital and St. Vincent Clay Hospital. Since the program's inception, Hamilton Center has completed approximately 300 rural crisis consults on a 24/7 basis."