Southern Tier Health Care System Inc

Target demographics: Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc

Geographic areas served: Southern Tier of Western NY

Programs: Since 1994, Southern Tier Health Care System (STHCS) has served communities in rural Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties in the southwestern corner of New York State. According to US Census data, the tri-county service area of STHCS encompasses 3,397.89 square miles with a mean population density of 75 people per square mile. Chautauqua County is the most populous county, with a population density of 122 people per square mile. Cattaraugus County has a population density of 59 people per square mile. Allegany County is the most sparsely populated county, with a population density of 46 people per square mile. In addition to low population density, the STHCS tri-county geographic service area is marked by rural topography and limited transportation options. The region is crisscrossed with seasonal use highways and unimproved roads. Health-care providers and human service agencies are clustered around population centers, including Wellsville in Allegany County, Olean in Cattaraugus County, and Jamestown in Chautauqua County. For people who live outside these population centers, travel to access health care can be difficult and extremely time-consuming. Travel time from the edges of each county to the population centers where health care services are located can be up to three hours round trip. Public transportation options in Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties are limited primarily to the population centers. The rural transit services that serve the more remote areas of the county are characterized by infrequent and often inconvenient routes. These geographic and transportation obstacles are a barrier to accessing adequate health care in the tri-county service area of STHCS. The service area of Southern Tier, Health Care System, is determined by the geographic proximity of Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties and the similarities of the health care challenges facing each of these counties. Due to the geographic proximity of these rural counties and lack of resources, many of the STHCS member agencies are accustomed to working together to address shared concerns and fully utilize available resources and services. STHCS maintains a strong and diverse network of member agencies located across Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties to ensure equal representation of priorities and needs of each county.