Rural Project Examples: Specialty care

Promising Examples

The Rural Virtual Infusion Program

Updated/reviewed November 2025

• Need: Allow rural cancer patients in a region inclusive of 26 counties in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota to have access to tertiary-level chemotherapy regimens administered in rural infusion centers.
• Intervention: With telehealth-based oversight from a tertiary care oncology team, 3 rural infusion teams were trained to coordinate cancer treatment plans and administer complex chemotherapy regimens.
• Results: The original grant-supported effort — with its results of saving 130 patients 65,000 trip miles and 1,800 travel hours – proved sustainable.

Other Project Examples

Major Health Partners Kidney Care Options (KCO) Program

Added July 2026

• Need: To improve kidney care for patients in rural Indiana.
• Intervention: A nurse-led, interdisciplinary kidney care program redesigned clinical workflows to identify patients earlier, provide education, address barriers to treatment, and support informed decision-making.
• Results: From 2023 to 2025, 80% to 92% of patients received Kidney Care Options education before initiating kidney replacement therapy.

Kid One Transport

Updated/reviewed June 2025

• Need: Transportation to medical appointments for children and expectant mothers living in rural Alabama.
• Intervention: Kid One Transport provides rides to medical appointments for clients who otherwise have no other means of transportation.
• Results: The program has transported 477,880 children and expectant mothers to and from medical appointments. Children have recovered from life-threatening illnesses and are experiencing a higher quality of life.