Unfortunately for many, the place where they live is also a predictor of their life span, especially for rural residents. Nearly 2 million Michigan residents live in rural communities where there are significant barriers to health care resources such as long commutes to hospitals and clinics, a shrinking pool of providers and a lack of high-speed internet.
Prioritizing rural health equity is part of the sustainable health theme in MSU’s 2030 strategic plan and ensures that everyone has the chance to lead a healthy life, no matter where they live.
The university has long had a presence that reaches all areas of Michigan to create a national model for improving health and well-being in underserved communities, including rural areas of the state. The following are some examples of MSU’s commitment to helping residents, training the next generation of health care providers and providing specialty programs targeted at mental health.
Programs for residents of all ages in all places
Access is crucial to managing chronic conditions, preventing disease and promoting overall well-being. The Michigan Center for Rural Health partners with the MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine on Project ECHO®, or Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes.
Experts meet virtually with rural doctors and talk through challenges while providing updated information about specific areas of health care. This innovative model creates a community collaboration that strengthens preventative care in rural areas while helping local health care workers gain expertise they need to provide services that may not currently be available in their regions.
“We are a nonprofit State Office of Rural Health,” says John Barnas, executive director of the Michigan Center for Rural Health. “Right now, we have 21 grant programs underway to support everything from veterans in the Upper Peninsula to a regional response to the opioid and substance use disorder crisis in northern Michigan. Our efforts focus on what’s happening inside hospitals as well as within the communities. We are an affiliate of MSU and have enjoyed working closely with them since 1991 to improve family and community medicine.”
Another program aimed at northern Michigan communities is Eat My ABCs, organized by researchers in the MSU College of Nursing. Their goal is to increase children’s consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as improve household food security and overall healthy weight.
The recently completed project was implemented in 26 day care classes totaling more than 400 students. This 14-week program taught children about fruits and vegetables, including where they grow and the health benefits, as well as a mindful-eating food activity in which participants could see, feel, smell, taste and hear the food. Participating teachers received a four-hour, in-person training session with an MSU researcher and were given resources to use throughout the program.
“The program taught my kid not to be as picky because there were things that she had never tried and she would not try them,” says one parent. “Now, she’ll eat the different fruits or vegetables, and she’ll tell you what they are and if she likes them or not.”
Eat My ABCs also has resulted in an increase in average fruit intake among participants, a decrease in consumption of sweets and sugary drinks and nearly a 6% increase in participants with a healthy weight.
For patients of all ages, virtual visits are available through MSU Health Care for rural residents who have limited access to primary care providers. This program enables patients to receive regular check-ups, manage chronic conditions and address health concerns from the comfort of their home.
Similarly, the MSU Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders offers physical outreach clinics in lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, including clinics for the Amish population, as well as telemedicine clinics.