Twin City Hospital was recently awarded a $375,000 federal grant to be distributed across three years from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Rural Health Policy.  Twin City Hospital was one of only about 60 healthcare entities in the United States to receive monies this year through HRSA’s highly-competitive Rural Health Outreach Grant Program. 

            The grant will fund Twin City Hospital’s new Healthy Community Outreach Program (HCOP), an innovative program designed to help reduce the number of overweight and obese area residents of all ages.  A consortium of community agencies will pool precious resources in order to achieve program success through a collaborative effort.  The consortium, in which Twin City Hospital serves as the lead agency, consists of HCOP Project Director and Board Certified Family Practitioner Dr. Tim McKnight, Carroll County Health Department, Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron, Claymont City Schools, Conotton Valley Schools, Immaculate Conception School, Indian Valley Schools, OSU Extension Office, Tuscarawas County Health Department, and the Tuscarawas County YMCA.

            Specifically, the program will provide three primary services.  First, “Fit for Life” classes for adults and “Fit for Fun” classes for children will be made available starting this fall to provide instruction on the proper nutrition, exercise and behavioral changes needed in order to lose weight and have a healthy lifestyle.  Second, special health interventions will be provided for adults and children who either have diabetes or are at risk for becoming diabetic.  Finally, the HCOP will provide nutrition, exercise and behavioral change information online beginning late this year in order to improve community access to health and wellness information.

            “Through my medical practice, I’ve seen so many patients in need of the types of services that the HCOP will be able to provide,” noted Dr. McKnight.  “I’m excited to lead this effort that will provide hope and help to so many people who are struggling with their weight and the many health complications excess pounds can cause.”

            “We are grateful to HRSA for putting their faith in Twin City Hospital by awarding us such a competitive grant, and we are looking forward to working with the consortium to provide another great community service for the residents of Tuscarawas and surrounding counties,” remarked Marge Jentes, Chief Executive Officer of Twin City Hospital.  “We appreciate all the help and support provided to us by Representative Bob Ney, Tuscarawas County Commissioners, Greg DiDonato, the mayors of Dennison and Uhrichsville and many other area officials who supported the Hospital’s grant application.”

            All Twin City Hospital HCOP services will be provided at a nominal cost, and class information for Fit for Life and Fit for Fun will be announced this fall.  For more information, contact HCOP Project Coordinator Tiffany Poland at (740) 922-7471.