Charlottesville-based University of Virginia Health System is rolling out a new telehealth program to help lung disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment in the Appalachian region of Virginia.
UVA partnered with Jonesville, Va.-based Stone Mountain Health Services and The Health Wagon, a Wise, Va.-based mobile clinic, to bring primacy care providers and services to the underserved area. The university also received a $10,000 National Science Foundation grant for the telehealth program.
Appalachian residents report significantly higher rates of lung cancer. They also have some of the highest death rates nationally for black lung disease. Being in the mountains, many do not have easy access to medical centers.
Physician supply in the Appalachian region is 28 percent lower than the national average. With the telehealth program, UVA pulmonary experts will provide 10 education sessions to local care providers.
"We want to work closely with the local care providers to determine how we can assist them in making sure their patients have easier access to specialized care for lung disease," said Kimberly Albro, a project manager at UVA.