Auburn University Rural Health Initiative
- Need: To expand healthcare access in rural Alabama communities.
- Intervention: The Auburn University Rural Health Initiative is working with communities across Alabama to develop a healthcare model that includes primary care, substance use disorder treatment and mental health treatment via state-of-the-art telehealth technologies, coupled with health and wellness programs and services provided by faculty and students.
- Results: The first telehealth care station, located in LaFayette, Alabama, began offering services in April 2023. Within the first year after opening, clinicians in the telehealth station conducted 592 patient consultations and issued 720 prescriptions.
Description
In October 2020, Auburn University Outreach began developing the Rural Health Initiative to address significant health disparities across rural Alabama. Created in partnership with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and the Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Human Sciences, the Rural Health Initiative model integrates telehealth technology with academic outreach programs and coordinated public/private partnerships while attending to critical patient-centric factors.
The City of LaFayette in Chambers County was selected as the pilot site based on significant health needs coupled with the community's capacity and desire to serve their citizens' healthcare needs. LaFayette is 24 miles from the nearest emergency room and home to a population with high rates of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
The Chambers County Community Health and Wellness Center, established in 2023, is housed in a previously vacated and newly renovated health clinic owned by the city. The Center includes a telehealth care station and space for pop-up clinics and outreach events offered by Auburn University faculty and students. In the early implementation stage of this initiative, Auburn University Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences joined the team, installing an audiology booth for their faculty and students to provide speech, language and hearing screenings and services for community members.
Services offered
The telehealth care station connects residents via video call to primary care services provided by clinicians licensed in Alabama. During a visit, clinicians may direct patients in the use of various diagnostic tools, such as an automated blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, and a hand-held camera. Information from these tools is shared with clinicians in real time to assist with diagnosis and prescribing.
In addition to the telehealth care station, the Auburn University Rural Health Initiative partners with Auburn faculty and students to provide weekly hearing screenings, weekly blood pressure screenings, monthly speech screenings, two interprofessional education days per semester, vaccine clinics, medication management, a community garden, nutrition education, and a small food pantry.
The Rural Health Initiative also offers a fellowship for undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in rural health.
Results
Between April 2023 and April 2024, clinicians in the telehealth station conducted 592 patient consultations and wrote 720 prescriptions. Patients' and program participants' survey results indicate overwhelming satisfaction with their experiences at the center. As of April 2024, a total of 190 faculty, staff and students have participated in center activities; a total of 560 individuals have participated in community engagement activities offered through the center. Over the past year, the Rural Health Initiative leadership team has secured just under $3 million to develop similar models in counties throughout Central Alabama based on the outcomes in Chambers County.
Ear, nose, and throat visits were the most frequently treated conditions followed by respiratory conditions. Oral, ocular, and cardiac events were the least frequently seen conditions. Antibiotics were the most frequently prescribed medication, followed by cough medications and oral steroids.
Data indicate a significant increase in station usage throughout the year. By October of 2023, the telehealth care station was averaging over 80 visits per month. The Rural Health Initiative team attributes this to extensive community outreach. For example, center staff developed a Health Ambassadors program, comprised of volunteers who promote healthy habits as well as the activities of the center.
The Rural Health Initiative team continues to cultivate university involvement with the clinic to expand the scope of services offered to the community, enhance the education of university students, and provide faculty with impactful opportunities for outreach and engagement.
The Rural Health Initiative has plans to install telehealth services in 13 additional rural communities across the state through telehealth carts as well as additional care stations. They also hope to expand services to include mental health and substance use disorder treatment via telehealth. Program leadership estimate that, once active, these telehealth services will expand healthcare access to over 53,000 rural Alabamians.
Survey Data
- 97% of participants indicated health needs were met very well or well
- 95% agreed or strongly agreed that the station was easy to use
- 95% agreed or strongly agreed that the telehealth tools that they used worked well
- 94% of participants are somewhat likely or extremely likely to recommend the service to a friend
Selected Media Coverage
- With Its Two Doctors Planning to Retire, an Alabama Town Patches Together Health Care Options, KFF Health News
- LaFayette OnMed Station is Busiest in Country, The Valley Times-News
- Auburn University Partnering With Chambers Co. to Increase Affordable Health Care, WTVM
- LaFayette Residents Finding OnMed Telehealth Station a Great Option in Health Care, Alabama Cooperative Extension System
- Alabama Extension, Auburn Outreach Partner With OnMed to Bring Health Care Solutions to Chambers County, Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Challenges
One challenge in launching this initiative has been to build a strong local network to ensure that community members are at the heart of all decisions and implementation steps. One solution that emerged was to build a coalition of community Health Ambassadors who share information and promote healthy lifestyles. This group of ambassadors is comprised primarily of youth and retirees who are committed to their own health as well as supporting the health of their friends, family, and neighbors.
Replication
The Initiative team has focused on building a model that can be replicated across the state, realizing that every community is unique. They have adhered to a 4-step process to implement their patient-centered model.
Additionally, the Initiative team has created a blueprint that includes a task tracker as well as multiple sample documents for reference. The most important step in this process is building relationships within the community, truly understanding local needs and assets, and building a coalition of partners that includes community leaders, community members, local health providers and university faculty and staff.
Contact Information
Hollie C. Cost, Assistant Vice President for University Outreach and Public ServiceAuburn University
Auburn University Rural Health Initiative
334.740.2897
hac0043@auburn.edu
Topics
Access
Health professions faculty
Health workforce education and training
Networking and collaboration
Telehealth
Wellness, health promotion, and disease prevention
States served
Alabama
Date added
May 7, 2024
Suggested citation: Rural Health Information Hub, 2024. Auburn University Rural Health Initiative [online]. Rural Health Information Hub. Available at: https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/project-examples/1138 [Accessed 8 December 2024]
Please contact the models and innovations contact directly for the most complete and current information about this program. Summaries of models and innovations are provided by RHIhub for your convenience. The programs described are not endorsed by RHIhub or by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. Each rural community should consider whether a particular project or approach is a good match for their community’s needs and capacity. While it is sometimes possible to adapt program components to match your resources, keep in mind that changes to the program design may impact results.