Eastern Kentucky University is one of six schools embarking on an initiative to increase the healthcare workforce in Appalachia. In turn, it’s looked to as a way to boost local economies.
EKU is a part of the Central Appalachia Health Consortium, funded through the federal Appalachian Regional Commission. The goals include articulation agreements, local pipeline development, and cross-institution internships. Dr. Michelyn Bhandari is EKU’s project director for the consortium.
“To spend a year to develop a plan for how we can grow economies through increasing the healthcare workforce, cause we know there are critical shortages,” said Bhandari.
Following a year of collaboration, an implementation grant application will be made to the Appalachian Regional Commission.
In addition to EKU, Appalachian State, Marshall, Ohio University, Radford, Shawnee State and East Tennessee State are part of the group.
Bhandari said this collaboration could help boost medical providers in a given community. She said it’s hard to say if that would be additional nurses or doctors or another medical professional.
“What is available for central Appalachia residents and if they wanted to go to school, get trained…but stay in that area..what is available for them and how can we help facilitate that so working together. So, it’s a new flavor if you will,” said Bhandari.
The one year-long study, including a meeting to be held in Richmond, gets underway in July. The project encompasses 235 counties in six states, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Here's more with Dr. Michelyn Bhandari:
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