Client News
How would you access the quality of healthcare available in your region? What is your assessment of healthcare providers, ranging from IU Health to U of L Health (Louisville) to local providers? What is the biggest gap in healthcare in your region? Who makes the decisions for your family’s healthcare needs? 
Qualitative and quantitative research
MEK explored these and other questions in a series of focus groups in Orange and Crawford counties in August. MEK client Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) commissioned the focus groups and additional survey research and interviews. The qualitative and quantitative research measured quality of available healthcare, degree of satisfaction from area healthcare providers and brand equity issues.
Daviess County one of nine counties selected for state OCRA Legacy economic program, can receive up to $ 1 million in funding.
WASHINGTON (Indiana) – The Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) is putting plans in motion to both help strengthen local workforce development and secure state funding of up to $1 million and support from the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program. Two new positions at DCEDC will help achieve this.
“It is no secret that workforce development is one of the top challenges for businesses not only in Daviess County, but across the state and nation,” said Bryant Niehoff, DCEDC executive director. “Addressing these workforce challenges has required greater organization and tapping into Daviess County business, regional, educational and civic leadership, and it became apparent that we needed a single point of contact to fully maximize our efforts.”
[Note: this story was covered on Inside Indiana Business, Southern Indiana Business Report, and the Washington Times Herald.]
INDIANAPOLIS – Record double-digit growth in national market share and staff has marked 2022 operations at OPYS, according to Andre Creese, MD, FACEP, President and CEO. Beginning its second decade as a physician-owned and operated company, Indianapolis-based OPYS has today risen to acquire a national reputation for effectively addressing critical physician shortages and medical professional challenges.
“Many hospitals and clinics today face major and costly challenges in identifying and attracting highly qualified physicians, especially in small-to-medium-sized cities and rural areas,” said Dr. Creese. “OPYS strategically helps hospitals and trauma centers address these critical issues and sustain a high quality of care.”
OPYS has grown its hospital network to include physician services in Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Illinois, Washington, California, North Dakota, and expects to expand soon in New York, Oregon and Wisconsin.
In achieving national 21% growth over 2021 in its specific national markets, OPYS provides hospital-based physician management group outsourcing to emergency, inpatient, urgent care, and telemedicine centers, delivering a customized array of physician services.
A major key to the current success and national growth of OPYS is its physician network experienced in serving rural healthcare needs. “Having served as an emergency department and trauma center physician, I know firsthand about the unique needs in fulfilling these critical roles, especially in providing high-quality patient care and outcomes,” said Dr. Creese. “That same quality of experience is reflected in the OPYS staff, which allows us to quickly and effectively serve our partner hospitals.” Read more
The public announcement that Ascension St. Vincent’s Dunn Hospital and related offices will close in December 2022 may have created concern about current and long-term available health care services in the region, particularly for obstetrics services that include prenatal care, delivery, and postnatal/well-baby services.
Southern Indiana Community Health Care (SICHC) has effectively served patients, families, and communities for nearly 50 years, which has included families in the Bedford and greater Lawrence County region. SICHC holds a positive history of meeting the needs of patients in the region, and that commitment will continue. With its status as a certified Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), SICHC physicians, providers, and staff deliver high-quality, affordable and accessible primary care, obstetrics, integrated mental health, and other comprehensive services to people through its current offices in Orange, Crawford, Martin and Washington counties.
SICHC’s professional provider staff includes board-certified family physicians. In addition to providing comprehensive care through its own facilities, SICHC maintains positive relationships with regional hospitals and clinics to provide specialty care and referrals.
Using a team model for health care delivery, SICHC reflects a faith-based mission of delivering services based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Its FQHC status ensures SICHC’s commitment and capacity to serving as a “safety net” for healthcare services, helping to safeguard the inclusion of low-income populations to receive high-quality service on an equitable basis. This long-time commitment will continue.
For more information about SICHC, please visit https://sichc.org/
Media contact: Michael Snyder, MEK
ELLETTSVILLE, Indiana – In a time described as a “pivotal moment in broadband history,” Smithville received national recognition as a leading broadband enterprise as one of America’s top 100 national broadband companies, according to Sean Buckley, editor-in-chief of Broadband Communities magazine.
“Smithville was selected for this national recognition in part because of its continued commitment to finding creative solutions to expand broadband service, especially in underserved rural areas of Indiana,” said Buckley. “As the Rural Broadband Association noted, the industry is on the precipice of ‘once-in-a-generation funding,’ and Smithville demonstrated through past performance that it is well-equipped to take advantage of this new opportunity for the people, businesses and institutions of Indiana.”
Buckley noted that standards are high for selection in the top 100. Requirements to be selected in the intense annual competition include deploying networks, services and products that are intended to transform local economies or improve communities’ quality of life and for introducing advanced technologies with “game-changing potential,” including “exceptional service quality and standards.”
The 2022 selection of Smithville represents the 14th consecutive time the company has been recognized with this national honor, the only Indiana-based company so named.
Described as “Indiana’s most prominent independent telecom company” in the Top 100 award overview, Smithville was singled out for its continued innovative expansion of fiber and related services. The review described how Smithville was positively “leveraging significant private investments with catalytic funds from Indiana’s rural Next Level Connections Broadband Grant program” to bring gigabit-level fiber in north-central Indiana near Sharpsville and a creative joint initiative in Monroe County with the South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Cooperative (REMC).
MEK was privileged to conduct pro bono media relations in honor of the WWII combat veteran George Dingledy. The below media brief helped generation coverage on WTTV CBS4 and FOX 59.
INDIANAPOLIS – From WWII Pacific theater combat veteran to mayor of Wabash to oldest active Rotarian in Indiana, George Dingledy has led – and continues to lead — a remarkable life. With a formal presentation of the Sagamore of the Wabash from Governor Eric Holcomb (presented on behalf of the Governor by Rotarian Elaine Bedel, Secretary and CEO of the Indiana Destination Development Corporation) and additional recognition by the current mayor of Wabash, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis will celebrate the life and accomplishments of 64-year Rotarian and club member, George Dingledy, Tuesday, August 9 at their weekly mid-day meeting in the Tunisian Room at the Murat Shrine, 510 New Jersey Street, Indianapolis.
Dingledy, one of the oldest World War II combat veterans in Indiana, will be honored for his 33 months of active duty in the Pacific Theater (1943-1945), 64 years of Rotary involvement (1958-present), as well as his distinguished business career and civic involvement in the cities of Wabash and Indianapolis.
The program, organized by the Rotary Club of Indianapolis’ history committee, will include highlights of Dingledy’s service in the United States Army and his service to the world through his 60 plus years of membership in Rotary International as a club president and Rotary District Governor in 1987-1988.
Special presentations will be made by fellow Rotarians, the Honorable Scott Long, the mayor of Wabash, IN, and
The Rotary Club of Indianapolis meets each Tuesday. All are welcome at Rotary programs.
WASHINGTON (Indiana) – With a focus on “strategically and ethically driven solutions that deliver best outcomes,” True Rx Health Strategists has achieved an annual national growth rate of 30%, “well exceeding our initial growth forecast,” said Mark Williams, CEO. The national pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company has hired 86 employees since 2020, when it first announced plans for the construction of a $1.8 million facility now open on the east side of Washington near I-69. (see Inside Indiana Business coverage)
True Rx, which serves patients and employers in all 50 states, now has 107 employees in its new 15,000 sq. ft. facility and “anticipates hiring several more people through 2022 to serve our network of more than 65,000 pharmacies,” added Williams. The pharmacist-led and family-owned company was named a 2022 “Best Places to Work” leader by the Indiana Chamber, which Williams said “reflects the positive environment and corporate culture at True Rx that is helping to drive our growth.”
“Hoosier companies like True Rx form the bedrock on which Indiana will continue to build on its economic momentum and position the state for long-term growth and success,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch. “I was privileged to be at the initial ground-breaking for this important new facility, and I offer congratulations to True Rx for its success, both now and in the future.”