Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program - Project Title: Emlenton Healthcare Revitalization and Expansion – Primary Health Network Applicant Organization Name: Primary Health Network Address: 63 Pitt Street, Sharon, PA 16146-1503 Project Director Name: George Garrow, MD, CEO Contact Phone(s): P: (724) 342-3002 F: (724) 342-6616 Email Address/Website: ggarrow@primary-health.net (https://primary-health.net) Grant Program Funds Requested: Community Health Centers/CHC – $250,000/year (4 years) Proposed Service Area City and State: Emlenton, PA (Venango County) Total Number of Unduplicated Patients Projected to be Served during Project: 2,000 Primary Health Network (PHN) was founded in 1984, beginning with one small primary care site and one part-time provider. Since that time, PHN has grown to become the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in Pennsylvania, with approximately 40 sites spanning 17 counties throughout PA and northeastern OH. In 2024, PHN provided services to over 75,000 patients, in line with its mission, “To enhance the health and well-being of communities we serve by fostering trust and ensuring inclusive and equitable access to healthcare that is both compassionate and exceptional”. This mission is upheld by a strong leadership team, as well as a volunteer Board of Directors, composed of members from communities within PHN’s service area. PHN does not receive special population funding, and its service area includes both rural and urban communities. This application is in response to an acute need for healthcare identified in Venango County, following discussions with the Emlenton Area Medical Center board of directors after the local primary care provider recently closed. The proposed service area will be focused on the city of Emlenton, with services available to all residents of Venango County and beyond. PHN will form a consortium with Independence Health System (local hospital system whose coverage area includes Emlenton) and Linmas Drugs, Inc. (the local pharmacy located across the street from the proposed site). This proposed location is location in a Federally designated Primary Care HPSA (ID# 1424665307). Regarding economic status, the median household income for Venango County is $59,278, significantly lower than the state average of $73,170. Additionally, healthcare provider numbers for the county are also disparate. According to County Health Rankings, for Venango County, the ratio of PCPs to population is 1,660:1, significantly worse than the state average of 1,260:1. Lastly, the ratio of behavioral health providers to population is 460:1, also worse than the state average of 370:1. The proposed project will establish a rural health consortium, to revitalize a closed healthcare facility in Emlenton, PA, located at 516 Main Street, Emlenton, PA 16373. The target population includes the low-income residents of Emlenton and surrounding areas. The site will be operated by PHN, and provider staffing includes a full-time primary care provider and 0.2 FTE behavioral health provider. A Community Health Worker (employed by PHN) will also provide outreach to the service area. This site will provide access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary healthcare services for 2,000 new patients via 4,000 encounters, by the end of the 4-year project period. Additionally, consortium partners will provide access to their services via formal referral arrangements, including specialty care and pharmacy services. Consortium partners will be actively engaged with project decision-making, and their contributions to ongoing discussions will be vital to the project.
