Are the health care institutions on Martha’s Vineyard working together?

Yes, better than ever.  In early September members of the DCHC Primary Care Working Group submitted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services a Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant application, designed to secure financial support for the strategic planning necessary to create an integrated primary care network addressing medical, behavioral and oral health.  

Martha’s Vineyard Hospital is the lead agency.  Other applicants include MV Community Services, the Wampanoag Tribe, the Foundation for Island Health, the Whole Health Alliance and the On-Call Pediatric and Vineyard Medical Group.  The applicants are committed to forming a network that is as inclusive as possible.  

As a result, the application was “enthusiastically supported” by Island Health Inc, the Vineyard Health Care Access Program and the Vineyard Nursing Agency, who are currently the recipients of a Rural Health Outreach Grant that is funding the launch of the new Rural Health Clinic.

This application was a first in the almost 10-year life of the Council and represents a major step forward in fulfilling our Mission.