TEXAS A&M HEALTH LAUNCHES RURAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

  

The Texas A&M University Health Science Center is stepping up its support for rural health care in Texas by launching the Rural Engagement Program.

The new initiative combines efforts from the Texas A&M schools of medicine and nursing and the Rural and Community Health Institute to expand the health care workforce and bolster the viability of health care organizations to better serve rural Texans. 

Thanks to funding from the 88th Texas Legislature, the Texas A&M Health Rural Engagement Program is consolidating and amplifying these efforts to expand support for rural health care organizations and professionals throughout the state.

RCHI Executive Director Dr. Kia Parsi said that although there are common challenges facing rural health care, each rural community in Texas is unique, with specific needs.

By integrating the resources of the Texas A&M School of Medicine, School of Nursing and RCHI, the Rural Engagement Program can provide a robust menu of support capabilities and assistance that best fits the needs of each community. 

The Rural Engagement Program plans to provide support to help rural health care organizations keep their doors open and strengthen their services. The program will work alongside organizations to formulate and implement sustainable action plans to improve their financial performance, increase operational efficiencies, improve quality of care, expand workforce capabilities, provide leadership support and staff training opportunities, and assist with the transition to newer, value-based care payment models that incentivize higher quality of care.  

The program is also aimed at addressing the critical shortage of health care professionals in underserved areas.