Local health network funded

    PATTEN — Katahdin Valley Network (KVN) has been awarded an $85,000 grant by the U.S. Office of Rural Health Policy to conduct a community needs assessment and develop a network to provide services based on those needs.
    “This is the first time four agencies have an opportunity to collaborate with the community, assess needs and bring those needs to reality,” said Durward Humphrey, chief executive officer of the Katahdin Valley Health Center which will serve as the lead agency and fiduciary agent. The program will focus primarily on the Patten, Island Falls, Millinocket and Lincoln areas.
    The needs assessment will provide the foundation for joint planning and future initiatives. Through the formation of a sustainable network, officials of KVN anticipate successfully addressing challenges facing rural health providers. Those issues include: recruiting and retaining trained medical personnel; creating a seamless system of care; expanding health care services to meet the needs of small rural communities; providing comprehensive oral health services; integrating behavioral health and primary medical care; maximizing revenues; and competing with urban-based health care facilities to create and retain jobs and services.
    KVN consists of the four major health care providers in north central Maine. The providers are two federally qualified health centers — Health Access Network in Lincoln and Katahdin Valley Health Center in Patten — and two critical access hospitals — Millinocket Regional Hospital and Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln.
    Much of the region is designated as being an area with a health professional shortage or an area that is medically underserved. The population is appproximately 52,000. KVN will focus on the most vulnerable populations in the community: the poor and uninsured, the disabled and homebound, the aging and young children.