Continuing our ‘Get to Know 211info’ series, we’re introducing Erick Maddox, our newly elected Board Chair. With over five years on the board, Erick has witnessed 211info’s growth and evolution.
His background in health information technology and community health, and his dedication to enhancing the integration of healthcare and social services aligns with the work we do at 211info. We’re thrilled to have him at the helm of our board of directors. Below is a closer look at Erick’s path to joining 211info’s board, his perspectives on our future, and a few fun insights.
Erick Maddox is Executive Director of Reliance eHealth Collaborative, a Medford-based Regional Health Information Exchange. He works closely with the Office of Health Information Technology at the Oregon Health Authority and with a range of local, regional, and statewide payers and health systems. Erick also has six donkeys, including a rescue donkey named Joey (pictured).
Thank you for taking the time to participate in our “Get to Know 211info” series! To kick things off, please share how you got involved with 211info and how your professional experience aligns with our work.
Erick Maddox: Colleagues of mine in San Diego were already making progress integrating health and social care data through 211 San Diego. I kept an eye on the progress down there because it seemed an essential piece of the puzzle to use an established public access point and service directory like 211 to help bridge these systems. Later, I had the opportunity to meet Dan [Herman, CEO, 211info] at an Oregon Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) event. We had a long discussion about the building momentum I was witnessing for 211 in San Diego, and shared our interest in seeing similar possibilities for communities in Oregon. That conversation planted the seed for my involvement with 211info, and soon after, I joined the board.
San Diego 211 has an impressive model. Can you tell us how your current or past work aligns with 211info’s mission and vision?
Erick Maddox: What drives 211info is helping people find the resources they need, and supporting them through navigating a complex and often overwhelming system. In the past, I worked as a child play therapist and addictions counselor at a residential care facility in Nevada. Much of my work involved finding supportive services for residents and families, including foster care or extended family care, and assisting transitioning clients in and out of care.
Back then, we didn’t have a 211 line, but we did use the United Way Blue Book, which helped establish 211 systems nationwide later on, as our resource bible!
Although my world is less clinical direct care and is focused more on policy and data within the healthcare sector, my work is still about connecting people to help, while also pulling in new technology to streamline access. As we continue to see an increase in the medicalization of social services, healthcare and 211 services are becoming more closely aligned and complementary.
That background brings you full-circle, and is such a great fit for the board. For you, what about 211info’s work is most exciting right now?
Erick Maddox: It’s the vast potential that lies ahead. 211info’s leadership and staff have set the organization up well for prioritizing new work that is meaningful and will directly benefit people facing health, economic, and social challenges. We’re stepping into new services, meeting new challenges, and positioning 211info to be a fundamental part of improving the lives of Oregonians.
On the flip side, what do you see as 211info’s biggest challenge in the next three years?
Erick Maddox: Our biggest challenge will be navigating the unknowns that come with this new work. Coordinated entry, integration of healthcare and social services, and Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) supports—all are new territory, not just for 211info, but for everyone. With so many unanswered questions on how it will work, there’s also a big opportunity for 211info to lead in finding innovative solutions to help answer those questions.
Sometimes, we hear, “There are no resources in my area, so I don’t need to use 211.” What are your thoughts on how 211info can better serve areas where resources may be more limited, particularly in rural areas?
Erick Maddox: I live in rural Southern Oregon, and what I’m seeing is that many organizations are delivering services. I question whether it’s a lack of resources or a lack of knowledge about what is available and effective ways to access that help.
Data is key in helping to answer that question. By comparing data on identified needs from 211 to what resources we know already exist, we can help identify true gaps in services. That data is what service providers need to help secure funding to fill the needs out there.
For rural areas especially, the relationships our Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs) build within local communities are critical to helping identify these service gaps and spreading awareness of existing services.
I’ve learned about new services and programs just by chatting with people in the grocery store or while having lunch on a random Tuesday. Those interactions might seem small, but they’re a powerful way of transferring knowledge. It’s why having that local presence makes all the difference in filling service gaps in our rural communities.
Are there types of rural partnerships you see as crucial for the evolution of 211 services in these areas?
Erick Maddox: Housing is an obvious need, but transportation and mobile services are essential too. For example, Access, a larger service agency in Southern Oregon, provides housing and food assistance, even bringing food pantry services to rural communities over 45 minutes away because it’s where the help is needed. It’s an important service model because having resources isn’t enough if people can’t easily access them.
What’s something on your bucket list?
Erick Maddox: I have two travel goals, I still need to see the Panama Canal and I have yet to set foot on the African continent.
Those are good ones. And for fun, what’s your favorite snack or sandwich? We frequently talk about our favorite foods and recipes here at 211info!
Erick Maddox: My go-to sandwich is turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo on a hoagie roll. It’s a carb overload, but it’s Thanksgiving in sandwich form. You can’t beat that.
This post is part of a series where we introduce our board of directors and a wide variety of 211info staff. Get to Know 211info: Subscribe to our newsletter below to receive the ongoing series in your inbox. Visit our board of directors page to learn more about the people helping guide 211info.