The Southwest Virginia Partnership is improving access to health care through a number of exciting initiatives. Some of the projects and programs are described below.
Healthy Appalachia
The Healthy Appalachia Institute at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise is a collaboration of critical thinkers, scholars, system planners and leaders in government, education, business and healthcare who are examining issues that exist at the interface of health and Appalachian culture. U.Va. is an active partner in this collaboration, providing resources, ideas, and strategies to foster a healthier population for Central Appalachia.
The vision of the Healthy Appalachia Institute is unique among university-based Appalachian studies programs in that it seeks to transform Central Appalachia into a leading model for health for rural communities throughout the world. This vision is moved forward through the mission of the Healthy Appalachia Institute to improve the health, education and prosperity for the residents of the region.
Healthy Appalachia Works
In partnership with the Institute, Healthy Appalachia Works is a program of the U.Va. Cancer Center and the Office of Telemedicine to provide oncology services and build a stronger health care workforce. Healthy Appalachia Works is led by Michael Weber, PhD, and Karen Rheuban, MD and is generously funded by the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. U.Va. is partnering with local health care providers to increase cancer screening, improve cancer education, and provide more effective diagnosis and treatment. We are doing this while also helping to advance the skill and earning potential of healthcare employees, creating new health care jobs in the region.
Specialty Clinics
One of the most complex healthcare problems for residents in far Southwest Virginia is  gaining access
to certain medical specialties. To address this limitation in the area’s healthcare workforce the U.Va.
Health System has continued its commitment to provide direct specialty clinical care in collaboration with partners throughout the region. Clinics are currently located in Tazewell, Wise, Clinchco, and Bristol. Dr. Wende Kozlow is leading a team of U.Va. health care professionals who will see endocrine patients on a regular basis in the region. Follow-up care for all specialties is provided through the Telemedicine Program.
Telemedicine
For over a decade, the U.Va. Office of Telemedicine has provided specialty clinical services and health
education to the residents of far Southwest Virginia through an extensive network of telemedicine
sites within rural hospitals, health departments, schools, free clinics, correctional facilities, and community
health centers.
U.Va. Telemedicine continually and aggressively seeks funding to expand capabilities
in Southwest Virginia. In 2009 U.Va. improved access to specialty medical care in the region by
opening five new telemedicine sites. These include:
- The Federally Qualified Community Health Centers in Haysi and Tazewell
- The Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Aging at the Mountain Empire Older Citizens in Big
Stone Gap
- The Crossroads Medical Misson Free Clinic serving residents of Lee, Scott and Wise Counties
- The Appalachian College of Pharmacy in Oakwood
Funding for these sites came through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an appropriation directed
through the Health Resources and Services Administration. The Verizon Foundation and the Tobacco
Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission also provided financial support.
 Also included in this appropriation was funding for Healthy Appalachia Works and the Southwest
Virginia Telemedicine Cancer Outreach Program, both of which extend access to cancer screening,
education, prevention, and clinical trials throughout the region. One example is increased access to
breast and cervical cancer screening using U.Va.’s digital mammography van and tele-colposcopy
services. Follow-up care is provided in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health’s Every
Woman’s Life program so that patients can receive follow-up care at no charge.
The U.Va. Health System also provides a tele-radiology link to Southwest Virginia at Buchanan General
Hospital, with radiological reviews after-hours and for complex cases. This service allows patients
to receive diagnosis and treatment in their home region, which is especially important when
time response is critical.
Cancer Initiatives
Mortality from cancer is a significant issue in the Coalfields. The University of Virginia Health System’s Emily Couric Clinical Cancer Center is dedicated to a comprehensive program of cancer control including education, prevention, early detection and access to the latest care. Efforts are currently underway to improve prevention, screening and early detection of breast and cervical cancers. This includes outreach by Dr. Peyton Taylor, a U.Va. Board-certified gynecologist in training a cadre of nurse practitioners from Southwest Virginia to examine and test patients for cervical cancer. This disease is highly treatable if discovered in time, making early detection critical to the long term survival of the patient. Dr. Paula Fracasso is also part of the team helping develop an improved cancer network to help ensure that patients have access to clinical trials being conducted at the University of Virginia.
Remote Area Medicine Initiative
The RAM-Wise clinic, held in Wise County, is the nation’s largest mobile free health care clinic. This represents only a part of U.Va.’s major initiative to create accessible sustainable health care programs for uninsured and medically underserved residents of far Southwest Virginia.
U.Va. sponsored 217 volunteers at the 2008 RAM clinic. The volunteers included staff physicians, nurses, social workers
as well as pharmacy and lab employees, patient registration and general volunteers.
U.Va. provided medical care to 1,133 individual patients.
The total value of care provided by U.Va. at RAM 2008 was $1,048,942, a record amount. The sum
includes volunteer time/salary expense ($143,854) and patient services ($905,088). Additionally, the
U.Va. Health System spent $28,985 on medical supplies and volunteer housing and travel.
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