WASHINGTON, Mo. – Mercy Washington was selected as the regional "hub anchor #20" as part of the Transformation of Rural Community Health (ToRCH) initiative sponsored by the Missouri Department of Social Services, serving Franklin, Lincoln and Warren counties.
ToRCH, a state-supported initiative, is a community-driven effort to identify and address health-related social needs such as housing, transportation and access to nutritional foods, which affect a person’s ability to maintain health and manage chronic conditions.
As the hub anchor, Mercy will host monthly community board meetings to gather feedback, evaluate needs and help direct available funding toward initiatives to improve rural health outcomes. The board includes members representing healthcare, public health departments, EMS, pharmacy, transportation, housing and community organizations to ensure decisions reflect community priorities and diverse perspectives.
“We look forward to working closely with our community, listening to what’s needed and creating plans to improve the health of those we serve,” said Joy Kaplan, executive director of mission for Mercy Washington and Lincoln Communities. “There are many social components in staying healthy, and we must work together to reach all those who need our support.”
The monthly meetings will be open to the public, and while attendees are not voting members, their input will help guide priorities and investments.
Meeting Information
Beginning in September, board meetings are expected to occur:
Second Wednesday of each month
Noon to 2:00 p.m.
Leslie Tucker Boardroom, second floor of Mercy Hospital Washington
(Exceptions may occur due to scheduling conflicts – with notification one month in advance at prior public meeting.)
