April 30, 2020 — Hope, Resiliency and Tenacity: 30 Years of Partnership
By: Nicholas Oliver, Executive Director
Today, the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care launches its new website. I am excited that this new website will feature a mobile-friendly website design that is easy to navigate on any device you are accessing our website, offer a multi-factor search engine to assist referral sources and the general public to find a provider and provide member-only content through a password protected site that gives our members timely and relevant industry knowledge and guidance at their fingertips.
With that in mind, I am cognizant that home care providers are operating in a complex environment as Rhode Island approaches the surge in community infection rates for COVID-19. One month ago, our trade association quietly celebrated our 30th anniversary. We do not know when we will be able to gather in-person following this public health emergency. However, it is worth posting this letter publicly to display our hope for state, our patients and their families, the resiliency of our workforce and the tenacity of our association to advocate for the needs of our industry.
March 27, 2020
Dear Members of the Rhode Island Partnership for Home Care,
Congratulations! Thirty years ago today, a small group of administrators of home care provider companies came together to establish a trade association to support the industry at the state level. During the earlier years of our association striving to be a “unified voice” for our local industry to our current mission of “Advancing quality healthcare at home”, The Partnership has grown to be a comprehensive organization advocating for homemaker and personal care attendant companies, home health agencies, home infusion companies and palliative care and hospice providers. As The Partnership matured as an association, we have built our brand to ensure that all of our members are focused on patient-centered care, adhering to ethical business practices and delivering the highest quality healthcare services in the homes of Rhode Islanders all across the State.
No one could have imagined thirty years ago that The Partnership would face its most challenging time as a result of a global pandemic. Not only are our Provider Members directly impacted by this crisis, our Associate Members that distribute medical supplies and equipment, offer professional education and insure provider operations are facing acute challenges to serve the timely needs of our industry. We are all looking to our federal and state leaders and regulators for swift solutions and guidance, but they are continuing to fall short because they are currently hyper-focused on healthcare delivered in settings other than at home and in the community. Despite these shortfalls, The Partnership and its members have stepped up to seek solutions, share information and best practices and support one another as cooperative competitors. Together, we have taken action that quickly and decisively reduced our industry’s risk of spiking the curve of community spread. As a result of the action steps taken to support our members in this time of the current pandemic, The Partnership has become a model association that other associations across the country are following.
When the isolation period of the COVID-19 response ends and our society returns to a level of normalcy, The Partnership will continue to offer strong advocacy at all levels of government to improve the clinical and operational climate for home-based healthcare services, professional education opportunities to enhance the high quality care that your companies are delivering and networking opportunities to enjoy camaraderie with your peers in our industry.
Thank you for adding value to the lives of over 20,000 homebound Rhode Islanders needing healthcare at home and approximately 7,800 people employed by our local industry. May we continue to grow as an industry and thrive in a time where more Rhode Islanders demand home care. I am proud to lead your association and express my gratitude every chance that I can to all those that dedicate their time and treasure toward “Advancing quality healthcare at home”.
Again, congratulations on our 30th anniversary! I am looking forward to celebrating with you this milestone for our association and industry.
In good health and fidelity,
Nicholas Oliver, MPA, CAE
Executive Director
