In the Headlines

January 20, 2018 -  The drug epidemic stretches across the state and nation, and this fresh look at what is happening locally shows it continues to worsen in the Finger Lakes region. Common Ground Health, a Rochester

January 19, 2018 -  A report released this week by the Finger Lakes health agency "Common Ground Health" indicates Steuben County experienced one of the highest rates of opioid abuse in the region in 2016. The Common Ground study further showed, for non

January 18, 2018 -  A new report from Common Ground Health has labeled Chemung County as having the highest rate of opioid abuse throughout the Finger Lakes region, and that is why the county's health department says opioid abuse hs become a priority in its Community Health Improvement Plan.

January 18, 2018 - This article states that every county in New York has been touched by the opioid epidemic and Steuben is no exception. Albert Blankley, director of research and analytics for Common Ground Health was quoted saying "as opioid deaths and overdoses continue to devastate many in our region, it is critical that we better understand how individuals are becoming dependent, and also these data show that for some individuals, prescription medications may contribute to or trigger the problem."

January 18, 2018 -  In the past couple years, UR Medicine and Rochester Regional Health have built or taken over urgent care centers, sometimes within blocks of each other. Albert Blankley, the director of research and analytics for Common Ground Health was quoted saying“the proliferation of urgent care is really because consumers are driving it, and it wouldn’t exist unless people chose that type of care."

January 17, 2018 -  Chemung County had the highest rate of opioid abuse during 2016 in a nine

January 17, 2018 -  According to a data analysis report conducted by Common Ground Health, half of opioid overdoses in the region were associated with a prior pain prescription and found that from 2014 to 2016, 54

January 12, 2018 - In this Health Podcast, D&C Digital Healthy Life reporter Patti Singer talks about why a new source of data about the opioid epidemic in Monroe County may help law enforcement prevent more fatalities, and there's an active turf war going on between different urgent care centers in Rochester. There is no statute or regulations that defines an urgent care center, but if attached to a hospital they have to go through the regulatory process, which Common Ground Health recommends, but they are not saying no because some centers are too close together.

December 19, 2017 - A recent report from Common Ground Health found that for Rochester's most vulnerable popuations, barriers persist in accessing proper health care. Albert Blankley, director of research and analytics at Common Ground Health stated that the Affordable Care Act has cut the percentage of adults in Monroe County who lack health insurance by half, but in high povery neighborhoods, even residents with medical insurance are falling through the cracks.  Sister Christine Wagner, executive director of St. Joseph's Neighborood Center and who sits on many committees at Common Ground Health, was also featured in this article.

December 12, 2017 - Dec. 12, 2017  - Causewave recently featured Summer Meals and Common Ground Health’s Dina Faticone as part of its marketing campaign about successfully creating change. The ad highlights the 24 percent increase in participation for summer meals and the ways that collaboration have made the program more appealing, empowering, accessible and efficient. View the webpage talking about the Summer Meals work here.

December 6, 2017 -  Bonnie DeVinney, who has four decades of nonprofit leadership, including executive director at Common Ground Health, will serve as interim president and CEO for Willow Domestic Violence Center. "I know the significant importance of Willow Center to our community, DeVinney said. “And it is my great honor to serve during this period of transition to ensure that Willow continues to meet the critical need for programs and services to support survivors of domestic violence and their children."

November 29, 2017 - The Healthi Kids Coalition at Common Ground Health is asking the City of Rochester to lower the speed limit on neighborhood streets from 30 to 25 miles per hour. Mike Bulger, healthy communities project coordinator, said research showed that traffic concerns keep many parents from letting their children play outside or walk and bike to school.