NRHA Webinar: Tackling health disparities in rural communities

On October 10, 2024, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) hosted a webinar that featured healthcare leaders and experts who addressed the reality of health disparities in our nation's rural communities. Speakers included Connie Embrey, RN, Population Health Nurse at Ohio County Family Care, Catherine Idema, Lead Director of Health Equity at CVS Accountable Care, and Melissa Rumple, RN, Clinical Coordinator for Chronic Care Management at Hancock Health. The webinar emphasized the importance of tailored healthcare strategies to help bridge gaps and provide solutions for the unique needs of rural populations. This blog serves as a recap to highlight the discussions in the webinar and includes key points about the ways rural healthcare providers are making positive impacts in the face of health disparities. 

As rural health disparities continue to present challenges for providers and the patients they serve, the webinar underscored the need for collaborative, community-centered efforts as an essential step to level the proverbial playing field. CVS Accountable Care, through collaboration with local health providers, is committed to advancing health equity by strategically tailoring approaches to identify and address the specific needs of rural communities. The rural-based speakers described scenarios including using data analytics to help improve healthcare delivery and interventions tailored to the needs of their communities.

Embrey, for example, described the ways that the Ohio County Family Care Mobile Access Clinic has helped to bring healthcare services to isolated populations in their rural Kentucky community. Equipped with two exam rooms, the mobile unit has helped to alleviate transportation barriers. Embrey described a case study of a visually impaired patient who successfully uses the clinic to access care without financial strain. “One of the biggest barriers for our patients was transportation,” commented Embrey, “the cost, the need for a 24-hour notice, and for some, just being able to see a provider at all. Our strategy became clear – go to where the patients are if they can’t get to us.”

At Hancock Health in Indiana, staff and providers have focused on health literacy, which, according to Rumple, has led to transformative changes in their patient care. “We identified that we should be using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) to better understand our patients’ literacy levels. Discovering that some patients were illiterate allowed us to provide pictorial education and tools.” Rumple addressed the notion of stigma about discussing health literacy with patients and shared a positive anecdote. “We found that most folks were pretty open to answering questions about their literacy level. Many patients, who we’ve known for years, will say, ‘I don’t read.’ Recognizing this openly can make a big difference in their health journey.” By using REALM, Rumple’s team identified health literacy barriers which led to an adaptive approach where the team provided visual aids, simplified their instructions, and used customized tools and resources for their patients. The adjustments helped previously overlooked patients better navigate their healthcare needs and highlighted the success of accessible, individualized care. 

The collective team of experts at CVS Accountable Care relies on robust data analytics and clinical programs to provide customized support for their rural partners. Idema discussed the ways the organization can help rural health systems develop strategies to effectively identify potential barriers their communities face and suitable solutions. “Our goal is to approach every partnership with collaboration, working with providers to design programs that meet each community’s needs, with a focus on tailored health equity interventions,” said Idema. CVS Accountable Care uses insights to identify and close gaps in care, streamline workflows, and initiate interventions that reduce health inequities in rural and underserved areas. 

The webinar, which took place during National Health Literacy Month, provided key messages for providers and healthcare professionals interested in learning more about health disparities and the role health literacy plays. Three key takeaways include:

1.  A community-centric approach: By identifying and prioritizing individual community needs, rural healthcare providers can improve their patient's collective health equity by designing specific literacy programs, providing customized resources, and in some cases, a mobile clinic can help to remove barriers to health and healthcare services. "With our mobile clinic, we can adjust to where the need is highest. Being flexible with care delivery has allowed us to connect with patients we otherwise couldn't reach," commented Embrey. 

2. Practical solutions lead to sustainable change: By effectively identifying the needs unique to their communities, healthcare teams can provide specific and targeted interventions to help bring better balance to underserved populations. "By asking the right questions and identifying literacy barriers early on, we're able to create a more trusting, patient-centered environment where patients feel seen and supported in managing their health," explained Rumple.

3. Collaborative relationships: By working with organizations like CVS Accountable Care, rural healthcare providers can access specific and proven resources founded in value-based, data-driven solutions that can help to address and diminish health disparities across a rural patient demographic. "Rural communities have unique strengths and it's crucial to leverage those to bring sustainable healthcare solutions to our most vulnerable populations," added Idema.

The NRHA’s webinar highlighted the importance of patient centricity and the power of healthcare that includes customized interventions, empathetic staff and providers who use data analytics to identify gaps in care and deliver solutions to improve patient care outcomes. By addressing the social determinants of health that their specific community experiences, rural healthcare providers can provide solutions that not only address the disparities but also improve access and outcomes. 

To access the webinar, click HERE to watch the recording. For additional information on how the experts at CVS Accountable Care can help your organization contact us.