Grants to Increase Healthcare Access for Rural Kansans (supported by The Patterson Family Foundation) is sponsored by The Patterson Family Foundation (in collaboration with The University of Kansas Health System's Care Collaborative and University of Kansas Medical Center). This initiative aims to create and optimize coordinated specialty care delivery networks to increase access to needed specialty care in rural communities across Kansas, supported by telehealth models for physician visits to high-demand specialties.

$12. 1 Million Grant To Increase Healthcare Access for Rural Kansans $12 Million Rural Healthcare Grant Grant to Expand Healthcare Access for Rural Kansans (Kansas City, Kansas) – The University of Kansas Health System’s Care Collaborative and the University of Kansas Medical Center today announced a new initiative to create and optimize coordinated specialty care delivery networks.

In collaboration with local providers, the goal of this initiative is to increase access to needed specialty care in rural communities across Kansas. This project is supported in part by a 2025 grant from The Patterson Family Foundation.

“Rural communities are the heart of Kansas, and they deserve access to the right care at the right time,” said Jessica Hunt, vice president of Strategy and Programs at Patterson Family Foundation .

“Building on the Care Collaborative’s long-standing investment in rural health, this effort expands telehealth connections and specialty care access — working alongside rural providers who are vital to helping their communities thrive. We’re proud to support this collaboration and the shared commitment to strengthening healthcare across rural Kansas.

” Researchers from the University of Kansas Medical Center will conduct a statewide assessment of specialty and sub-specialty care, as well as therapies and testing needed to support this care.

Based on the assessment, teams from The University of Kansas Health System’s Care Collaborative and defined medical specialty areas will work with Care Collaborative members, who are rural health care providers, to coordinate diagnostic and therapeutic services close to patients’ homes.

These will be supported by using telehealth models for physician visits creating access to high demand specialties such as neurology, pulmonology and rheumatology. Specialists will partner virtually with rural primary care providers and patients to provide expertise in diagnosis and treatment planning, assuring patients have access to the latest training and evidence-based practices, as well as more rapid access to medical advances.

Researchers in population health will work throughout the process to better understand the most impactful tools and techniques to create better health outcomes, which can then be replicated in other areas. The Care Collaborative, formed in 2014, supports quality performance improvement initiatives for 91 member organizations across 79 Kansas counties.

This four-year grant builds on the Care Collaborative’s efforts to help enhance high-quality clinical care in rural areas and improve the health of people living in rural Kansas communities. This effort began with a $12. 5 million grant in 2014 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and has since been supported by The University of Kansas Health System.

“The University of Kansas Hospital was created to support the health of all Kansans. More than 100 years later, we remain committed to the health and vitality of Kansans and their communities,” said Bob Page, president and CEO of The University of Kansas Health System .

“This new initiative will help change lives and communities by offering access to specialist care closer to home and supporting local economies through strengthened health care delivery. ” An additional goal of the project is to support workforce development, therapy and testing in local communities. Working with local care providers and leveraging locally based resources will support local care and economic development.

Specialists and Care Collaborative teams also will offer training and continuing education opportunities on the most recent screenings, technology and chronic care management. Teams also will create toolkits based on learnings and best practices to be shared with other communities around the country looking to support rural healthcare.

“The University of Kansas Medical Center is pleased to be a part of this collaborative project, which demonstrates the real strength of academic medicine – our researchers and care providers working side by side to find solutions to health-related issues,” said Dr. Steve Stites, executive vice chancellor of KU Medical Center and chief medical officer for The University of Kansas Health System .

“This project is just one of the many ways the University of Kansas is making a difference to improve the health of Kansans, especially for those in rural areas. ” The University of Kansas Hospital was created to support the health of all Kansans. More than 100 years later, we remain committed to the health and vitality of Kansans and their communities.

- Bob Page President and CEO, The University of Kansas Health System Teams also will create toolkits based on learnings and best practices to be shared with other communities around the country looking to support rural healthcare.

“The University of Kansas Medical Center is pleased to be a part of this collaborative project, which demonstrates the real strength of academic medicine – our researchers and care providers working side by side to find solutions to health-related issues,” said Dr. Steve Stites, executive vice chancellor of KU Medical Center and chief medical officer for The University of Kansas Health System .

“This project is just one of the many ways the University of Kansas is making a difference to improve the health of Kansans, especially for those in rural areas.

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