Your browser doesn't support audio playback.
Seven groups in the state are getting Rural Health Transformation Program awards to strengthen diabetes care.
Nearly $17 million is being divided across seven programs. The money will be used to expand access to technology-enabled healthcare, improve care coordination, and build the rural healthcare workforce, Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday.
He noted improving health improves the state’s workforce.
“We know that if we could make just a little bit of progress here, we could do such great things for the state of West Virginia,” Morrisey said. “I’m excited to be here today so we can get ahead of these disease state conditions and make a real difference.”
This announcement comes just before World Diabetes Day on Saturday, Nov. 14. Nearly 1 in 5 West Virginians has been diagnosed with diabetes affecting approximately 300,000 residents. An estimated 50,000 more are undiagnosed.
The awards support Cabell Huntington Hospital under Marshall Health Network, Marshall University Research Corporation, ROAM West Virginia, and the West Virginia Primary Care Association.
“Everywhere I go, I emphasize the single biggest challenge that we have in West Virginia is to increase our population and our workforce,” Morrisey said. “We’ve had aggressive metrics in place to try to reduce diabetes, to really reduce obesity as well, because if we could succeed in that regard, once again, we got more people back in the workforce, we make a big difference. Just succeeding in that one area alone makes a difference. And that’s actually what the philosophy behind my administration’s approach to economic development has been.”
The awards support Cabell Huntington Hospital under Marshall Health Network, Marshall University Research Corporation, ROAM West Virginia, and the West Virginia Primary Care Association.
Together, the projects span nutrition and lifestyle interventions, remote patient monitoring, care coordination, diabetic foot monitoring, rural healthcare apprenticeships, and rural clinical training:
- $5,043,333 to Marshall University Research Corporation to support nutrition-and lifestyle-based programs combining diabetes management, nutrition therapy, medication support, coaching, and behavioral and recovery services.
- $4,640,188 to Marshall University Research Corporation to expand remote patient monitoring for West Virginians with diabetes and hypertension, helping patients and care teams stay connected between office visits.
- $2,795,000 to the West Virginia Primary Care Association to expand diabetes management through community health centers, including nutrition coaching, food-as-medicine approaches, continuous glucose monitoring, and remote monitoring.
- $1,753,646 to Marshall University Research Corporation to develop and expand rural training programs in emergency medicine, physician assistant practice, and pharmacy, strengthening the pipeline of healthcare professionals serving rural West Virginia.
- $1,544,313 to Cabell Huntington Hospital, under Marshall Health Network, to expand patient care coordination, helping rural patients with referrals, specialist scheduling, follow-up, and other care needs.
- $700,000 to ROAM West Virginia to recruit and train licensed practical nurse apprentices who will support remote patient monitoring and chronic-disease care in rural communities.
- $500,000 to ROAM West Virginia to expand in-home foot scanning and nursing review for high-risk patients with diabetes or neuropathy in Barbour, Braxton, and Doddridge counties.
“These awards show what rural health transformation looks like when we bring prevention, clinical care, technology, and workforce development together,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh. “We are investing in organizations with strong connections to West Virginia and different capabilities to contribute to this work. Whether it is helping someone better manage diabetes at home, strengthening care coordination, or preparing the next generation of rural healthcare professionals, each investment supports our larger goal of building healthier communities across the state.”
These investments reflect West Virginia’s comprehensive approach to rural health, connecting prevention and chronic-disease management with technology, access to care, and workforce development to help more West Virginians get the care they need closer to home.