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I
n partnership with the The Hospital &
Healthsystem Association of Pennsylva-
nia (HAP), the American Hospital
Association (AHA) recently honored
hospital leaders across the nation, includ-
ing Cole Memorial’s President and CEO Ed
Pitchford, with a 2014 Grassroots Champion
Award. This award recognizes those who
have broadened community support for
hospitals and served
as advocates for
their hospital and
patients.
“To be named
among the other
leaders in the
country as a 2014
AHA Grassroots
Champion is truly an
honor,” says Pitchford.
Pitchford has been a national and state
advocate for rural health care in the region
throughout his health care administration
career—over 30 years. He was named the
CEO of Cole Memorial in June 2007.
Over the past several years, Pitchford
and his leadership team, with the support
of the board of directors, have transformed
Cole Memorial.
“Our industry leaders know that we can
improve the value of the products that we
offer to the public and are encouraging
organizations across the country to reduce
unnecessary spending, improve patient
outcomes and eliminate avoidable harm to
patients along the way,” says Pitchford. “Our
organization is a leader in rural America, and
I’m pleased that the American Hospital
Association and others are recognizing us
for this work.”
Among other organizations, Pitchford is
an active member of the Pennsylvania
Mountains Healthcare Alliance; the
Pennsylvania Rural Health Association; and
the National Rural Health Association,
including participation in its Rural Fellow-
ship program.
For more information, visit
www.cole
memorial.org
or
.
C
hildren’s oral health was identified as a
priority in Cole Memorial’s recent
community health needs assessment.
The survey revealed that at the present
time there are no dental providers
in Cole Memorial’s service area who care for children under the age
of 3. In addition, there is very limited dental care available for chil-
dren of any age with Medical Assistance or the Children’s Health
Insurance Program (CHIP). Families have to travel long distances
to receive dental care, and many children simply do not receive
the care they need due to a lack of transportation in rural areas.
Thanks in part to a Community-BasedHealthCare Programgrant
from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, on March 31, 2014,
Cole Memorial has launched a new Pediatric Oral Health Program
at Cole Memorial’s Coudersport Pediatrics Office. Beth Pantuso,
public health dental hygiene practitioner, will see pediatric patients
from the time of eruption of their first tooth through age 21.
Pantuso comes to Cole Memorial from the Bradford Dental
Center with more than 11 years of experience as a certified public
health dental hygiene practitioner. She will provide dental screen-
ings, cleanings, topical fluoride varnish application and oral health
education to patients and families. Pantuso will work closely
with Cole’s pediatricians Mary Ann Rigas, MD; Hongye Li, MD;
andMarlene Wust-Smith, MD, FAAP, as well as with pediatric care
manager Jennifer Hollowell to refer patients who need restorative
care to pediatric or general dentists. Beginning in the fall of 2014,
Pantuso will travel to the local school districts in Cole Memorial’s
service area to provide services to children in the school setting.
“We are so excited about the opportunity to integrate preven-
tive dental services into our pediatric practice at Cole Memorial,”
says Dr. Rigas, a board-certified pediatrician at Cole Memorial
and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Our focus
in pediatrics is on keeping children healthy and, until now, we
have felt a great void when it comes to caring for our patients’
teeth. Early-childhood dental caries is the most common pre-
ventable chronic childhood disease and the greatest unmet health
care need among our patients. We look forward to collaborating
with Beth to prevent the onset of early-childhood caries in our
patients through education and early dental care.”
The development of a Regional Oral Health Collaborative
council is an important component of the Pediatric Oral Health
Program. The council will comprise representatives from the
dental and medical communities as well as school administra-
tors and nurses and members of local human services organiza-
tions. The council will meet on a regular basis at Cole Memorial.
“We are grateful to Governor Corbett and the Community-
Based Health Care Subsidy Program,” says Cole Memorial Presi-
dent and CEO Ed Pitchford. “This project is funded in part by a
grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to enhance
access to dental care and to continue to deliver preventive primary
care services to patients in the rural communities that we serve.”
Medical Assistance and CHIP will be accepted, and no child
will be denied care due to inability to pay. Most major dental
insurance plans will reimburse patients for these services.
Ed Pitchford
recognized by the AHA
Cole Memorial
PEDIATRICS
TO LAUNCH
ORAL HEALTH
PROGRAM
For more information or to
schedule an appointment with
the public health dental hygiene
practitioner, call 814-274-9198.
Ed Pitchford
President and CEO
