Ernie Scott has been appointed Director of the Kentucky Office of Rural Health (KORH)

I am pleased to announce that Ernie Scott has been appointed Director of the Kentucky Office of Rural Health (KORH), effective November 1. Mr. Scott joined the KORH in January 2012 as Rural Project Manager. Prior to his role at the KORH, he was employed by Mountain Comprehensive Health Corporation as the Director of Planning and Special Projects. Ernie brings over 15 years of valuable rural healthcare experience ranging from clinic to hospital to academic settings. He began his career as a graduate of the Hazard Community College Radiologic Technology program and then earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Care Administration from Midway College. Ernie serves on a number of national, regional, state and local advisory boards and boards of directors. The University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (UK CERH) serves as the federally designated Kentucky State Office for Rural Health. The mission of the (UK CERH) is to improve the health of rural Kentuckians. The UK CERH accomplishes this through education, research, service, and community engagement. The KORH mission is to support the health and well-being of Kentuckians by promoting access to rural health services. Based in Hazard, Kentucky, a coal mining town of about 6,000 people, the UK-CERH employs approximately 180 people across the Commonwealth, including counties in eastern and western Kentucky and along the southern border. With a presence in nearly two-thirds of Kentucky’s 120 counties, including the Delta and Appalachia regions, the Center has a long history of award-winning programs and innovative collaborations between academic, community, and government groups. Mr. Scott will oversee all aspects of the Kentucky Office of Rural Health, including the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Grant Program (SHIP), The Kentucky State Loan Repayment Program (KSLRP) and the Kentucky Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (FLEX). The Kentucky Office of Rural Health provides a framework for linking small rural communities with state and federal resources while working toward long-term solutions to rural health issues. For more information on KORH services and resources, please visit www.kyruralhealth.org. Please join me in welcoming Mr. Ernie Scott into his new role as the Kentucky Office of Rural Health, Director.