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By Nancy Austin
September 18, 2009
Dr. John Rugge, Chief Executive Officer, Hudson Headwaters Health Network (HHHN), was honored with the C. Michael Savage Award for Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare at HHHNís annual Community Champions Dinner, September 13, 2009.† This award, given by the National Association of Community Health Centers, honors those who have shown excellence in the field of providing healthcare to underserved rural communities.
During his 35 years serving rural Adirondack healthcare, Dr. Rugge has built a network of 12 not-for-profit health centers in the southeastern Adirondack area. Dr. Rugge began his career when healthcare in this area was not easily accessible, and many other doctors in the area were on the verge of retirement. What began as a plan to stay for only a few months providing primary care became a lifetime commitment when he realized that there was a dire need for healthcare in a medically underserved rural area. He set out to craft the origins of a community-based system of health centers.
Largely due to his efforts, in 1981, with the help of federal funding, four centers (located in Chestertown, North Creek, Warrensburg and Indian Lake) were named the Hudson Headwaters Health Network, a not-for-profit organization. Health centers were later established in Bolton Landing (1985), Schroon Lake (1993) and Ticonderoga (1993). Most recently, facilities were established in the Town of Moriah and the Albert R. Tucker Clinical Services Center was opened in Warrensburg (2005). Approximately 60,000 individuals receive care annually at 12 health centers which provide healthcare to all residents within Warren, and parts of Hamilton, Essex, Saratoga and Washington counties. A thirteen health center is scheduled to open next year in Fort Edward.
HHHN also provides home care, and visiting doctors to many area nursing homes, including Fort Hudson Nursing Home, The Pines, The Stanton Nursing and Rehabilitation, Adirondack Tri-County Nursing Home, and Westmount Health Facility, among others.
In 2009, HHHN is expected to provide care to approximately 60,000 people, with 250,000 patient visits. Hudson Headwaters will also provide more than $3 million in uncompensated care and pharmacy discounts.
Dr. Rugge has also served as senior health policy advisor to state and federal government, and is a member of the Health and Human Services Medicaid Commission and Chairman of the Governorís Health Care Advisory Board. He has also served as President of the Community Health Care Association, and is a member of the New York State Hospital Review and Planning Council, and a board member of the Primary Care Development Corporation.†
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