What healthcare services are essential in rural communities?

East Tennessee State University’s Center for Rural Health and Research is helping to answer that question through a national study designed to ensure rural residents have a voice in shaping the future of healthcare delivery.

Supported by a $200,000 grant from The Commonwealth Fund, researchers are conducting focus groups and listening sessions with rural residents, healthcare providers and community leaders to better understand what services communities consider essential, and which may be effectively delivered through other models of care such as telehealth and mobile clinics.

“The mission of the Center for Rural Health and Research is to engage rural communities to advance health and improve quality of life, and that’s exactly what this study sets out to do,” said Dr. Kayla Alvis, a research assistant professor with the center and project lead. “We are not aiming to tell rural communities what they need. We are asking.

“ETSU is a regional institution based in Appalachia, and ETSU, the College of Public Health, and the center heavily focus on community-driven work,” Alvis continued. “Taking that approach on a national scale, in partnership with The Commonwealth Fund, is something we’re incredibly proud of.”

This project comes at a time when rural communities are facing significant challenges to healthcare access from physician shortages, hospital closures and other barriers to care.

“As the Commonwealth Fund launches its new program to strengthen rural health, we recognize that meaningful, sustainable solutions must be driven by the perspectives of rural communities themselves,” said Corinne Lewis, the Commonwealth Fund’s assistant vice president for improving care delivery. “We are excited to partner with ETSU’s Center for Rural Health and Research, which brings deep expertise in community-driven rural health research, to ensure our work is informed by the voices and experiences of rural residents and translates into policies and practices that expand access to essential healthcare services in every community”

ETSU’s Center for Rural Health and Research, which is housed in the College of Public Health, was selected to lead this project because of its reputation for community-engaged research and rural health expertise.

“Community-engaged research is at the core of all that we do,” said Michael Meit, the center’s director. “The center recognizes that successful rural health initiatives respect community values, and we approach our work with humility and a genuine desire to learn. We work hard to lift up the communities we serve and make sure that their voices are heard.”

For Alvis, one of the most important aspects of the project is ensuring policymakers and healthcare leaders hear directly from the people most affected by rural healthcare challenges.

“Residents of rural areas have a lived understanding of what it means to access healthcare in their communities,” Alvis said. “Many know what it means to drive hours for an appointment or to watch their local hospital close. That knowledge isn’t always reflected in the quantitative data often used to inform policy decisions.

“When policymakers hear directly from the people they serve, it can lead to better, more sustainable solutions that reflect what communities actually need,” she added.

As the flagship institution of Appalachia, ETSU has long been recognized as a national leader in rural health research, education and service. Initiatives such as this are at the core of the university’s mission to improve the health and well-being of people in this region and beyond.  

“The ultimate goal is to give rural communities a seat at the table in defining what essential health care looks like for them,” Alvis said. “There may be assumptions about what that looks like, but we think the reality is more nuanced and may vary from one rural community to the next.”

To learn more about the Center for Rural Health and Research, visit etsu.edu/cph/rural-health-research. To learn more about The Commonwealth Fund, visit commonwealthfund.org.

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