$12.1 million grant works to support health care in rural Kansas

KANSAS (KSNT) – The University of Kansas Health System’s Care Collaborative and Medical Center announced new initiatives to create specialty care delivery networks to increase access in rural communities across the state.

The project is supported in part by a $12.1 million grant from The Patterson Family Foundation. This initiative will include:

• Researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center will conduct a statewide assessment of specialty and sub-specialty care, as well as therapies and testing needed to support this care.
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• Based on the assessment, teams from The University of Kansas Health System’s Care Collaborative and defined medical specialty areas will work with Care Collaborative members, who are rural health care providers, to coordinate diagnostic and therapeutic services close to patients’ homes. These will be supported by using telehealth models for physician visits creating access to high demand specialties such as neurology, pulmonology and rheumatology.
• Specialists will partner virtually with rural primary care providers and patients to provide expertise in diagnosis and treatment planning, assuring patients have access to the latest training and evidence-based practices, as well as more rapid access to medical advances.
• Researchers in population health will work throughout the process to better understand the most impactful tools and techniques to create better health outcomes, which can then be replicated in other areas.

“Rural communities are the heart of Kansas, and they deserve access to the right care at the right time,” said Jessica Hunt, vice president of Strategy and Programs at Patterson Family Foundation. “Building on the Care Collaborative’s long-standing investment in rural health, this effort expands telehealth connections and specialty care access — working alongside rural providers who are vital to helping their communities thrive. We’re proud to support this collaboration and the shared commitment to strengthening healthcare across rural Kansas.”  

The Care Collaborative supports quality improvement initiatives for 91 member organizations across 79 Kansas counties. This four-year grant will help enhance high-quality clinical care in rural areas, as well as improve the health of people living in rural Kansas communities.

In addition to supporting rural healthcare access, the project will support workforce development, therapy and testing in rural communities. Specialists and Care Collaborative teams will offer training and educational opportunities on recent screenings, technology and chronic care management.

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