CDC recognizes WVSOM’s effort to serve rural residents during COVID-19 pandemic

LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) has been recognized by a federal agency for the development of mobile testing units and no-cost medical transportation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized the school — which partnered on the project with the Mountain Transit Authority (MTA), Greenbrier County Health Department and Greenbrier County Homeland Security and Emergency Management — for success in helping rural residents through its use of the CDC’s COVID-19 health disparities grants.

Out of 108 grant awards — totaling $2.25 billion — the Greenbrier County effort was one of three programs in the U.S. recently highlighted by the CDC in a report detailing how the projects improved health care access in underserved and rural communities.

“Being recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the work that WVSOM’s Center for Rural and Community Health (CRCH) led in southern West Virginia is an honor. It’s a testament to the strength of our partnerships and the important work that can be accomplished when we prioritize the values of our community within our research and service projects. WVSOM and its CRCH are building a reputation for innovative community engagement strategies to combat the challenges in public health West Virginians and their families face today,” said Brian Hendricks, Ph.D., executive director of the CRCH.

The COVID-19 program marks the second time this year WVSOM and its CRCH have earned national recognition. In June, the National Institutes of Health Community Engagement Alliance (NIH CEAL) collaborated with the CRCH to develop and launch a toolkit titled “Growing and Sustaining Community Partnerships: A Use Case.”

The toolkit is meant to guide research teams in best practices to build relationships with communities for community-engaged research.

As part of this collaboration, NIH CEAL staff traveled to WVSOM’s campus in Greenbrier County to host a collaborative presentation on community engagement and research.

WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, Ph.D., said the WVSOM CRCH serves as the region’s hub for community health engagement and partnerships.

“I am proud of the accomplishments of the WVSOM CRCH. The skills and expertise of the staff, in partnership with other organizations, demonstrates what can be accomplished when people work together. This collaborative model has been effective in addressing the health care challenges facing our communities, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic and health disparities,” Nemitz said.

In the report,“From Barriers to Bridges: The COVID-19 Health Disparities Grant’s Impact on Rural Health Access,” officials noted the WVSOM effort focused on the needs of the local community.

“Many rural residents of West Virginia know what it feels like to have to climb a mountain to access basic health care. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic made this climb steeper and more pressing, bringing systemic inequalities to light. … Some rural residents had to travel hours to reach vaccination and testing sites — if they had access to transportation. A partnership between WVSOM and MTA provided residents free transportation for non-emergency medical appointments,” the report stated.

Greenbrier County, the second largest county in West Virginia, experienced one of the state’s highest COVID-19 infection rates. Hospitals reached capacity and health department resources were stretched thin.

By working with partners to improve challenges like access to reliable transportation and community-located testing services, the CRCH and its partners s trengthened systems to support the health of underserved, minority and rural residents.

While the solution was developed by WVSOM and the project’s collaborators, school officials noted that the rapid, flexible grant funding was critical in turning the proposal into a reality.

“Thanks to this grant, we’ve established sustainable partnerships that address our local health department’s capacity for threat-preparedness, medical transportation needs of residents and the overall health of our community,” said Misty Beiler, program coordinator for the CRCH.

Hendricks said the grants signify a step toward ensuring that all communities, regardless of location, can access the health care they need.

“We are incredibly grateful for the CDC Rural Health Disparities funding, which supported the collective growth of our community. Such success strengthens our resolve to apply for future grants to address health inequities in rural and underserved areas,” he said.

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