COUDERSPORT — Two of Cole Memorial Medical Group’s Board-Certified pediatricians were honored for their work to improve rural health in the region.
Drs. Mary Ann Rigas and Marlene Wust-Smith were named “Community Stars’ by the National Office of State Office of Rural Health, which acknowledged outstanding rural health care leaders and providers on National Rural Health Day.
Kelly A. Braun, RDH, MSDH, dental delivery systems coordinator at the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, nominated both physicians.
“It was my pleasure to nominate Dr. Rigas and Dr. Wust-Smith for the Community Star recognition,” said Braun. “Pennsylvania is so fortunate to have providers like Dr. Rigas and Dr. Wust-Smith who recognize that overall health includes oral health. Both providers have gone and continue to go above and beyond to highlight the importance of patient-centered health initiatives.”
The National Office of State Office of Rural Health Community Stars publication shares rural health stories about people, providers, advocates and communities across the country, including an article about the dental care program that Rigas helped develop for Cole Memorial’s children in rural northcentral Pennsylvania.
She says that a rural practice is challenging but in a good way. “I like initiating a project and bringing practices together for quality improvement,” said Rigas.
Other stories such as Wust-Smith’s implementation of the patient-centered medical home model at Cole’s pediatrics department were highlighted in the NOSORH booklet as well as her launch of a new Village Visits program which brings new moms and their babies into the healthcare clinic as a group. “They really engage,” said Wust-Smith. “They are hungry to learn and do the right thing.”
Cole Memorial President and Chief Executive Officer Ed Pitchford said, “The entire Cole Memorial family congratulates Drs. Rigas and Wust-Smith on this national honor and we appreciate their excellent contributions to the health of local patients and the community.”
National Rural Health Day was created in 2011. Its goal is to increase awareness of rural health-related issues and challenges and to recognize the dedication and hard work of rural caregivers.
Hospitals are the economic foundation of many rural communities. Cole Memorial and the 1,330 Critical Access Hospitals, across 45 states, provide essential health care to rural communities. Rural doesn’t necessarily mean “remote.” Through growing telemedicine and electronic health record initiatives, rural health professionals are able to coordinate care, stay connected with each other and with urban tertiary care centers.
