HERSHEY — Rural residents often don’t have easy access to health care for a variety of reasons, including a lack of health care facilities within the community or nearby communities; limited transportation to get to appointments or lack of resources or insurance. Rural communities also see higher rates of behaviors that lead to poor health conditions, such as a higher incidence of substance abuse and a decreased likelihood of consistent physical exercise.
With 95% of Pennsylvanians living within 30 minutes of a Penn State Campus, Penn State is uniquely positioned to address residents’ psychological and physical health in rural commonwealth communities. As one of a handful of CTSA (Clinical and Translational Science Award) programs with a rural focus, Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s mission is to foster collaborative research and provide the necessary tools and resources to help new or proven discoveries reach the people who need it most.
TWO CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS TO ADDRESS RURAL HEALTH DISPARITIES
The most recent renewal of Penn State’s Clinical and Translational Science Award allows CTSI to continue investing in key partnerships between the institute and two primarily rural-focused health networks — Sharon-based Primary Health Network and Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network. These collaborations add to Penn State CTSI’s commitment to addressing rural health disparities.Primary Health Network, a federally qualified health center with nearly 50 health center sites, serves approximately 75,000 patients across the Commonwealth. Penn State CTSI has partnered with PHN to receive feedback on innovative research collaborations, methods, and to improve the integration of clinical research into health care practice across the state, particularly in central and western rural Pennsylvania.A virtual workshop with PHN clinicians and staff and Penn State researcher teams kicked off the collaboration between the two organizations, with discussions focused on social determinants of health, health literacy and mental health. The event provided Penn State investigators with real-world insight into the challenges in these areas faced by rural health providers and identified opportunities for future research collaborations to advance health equity.“Penn State and Penn State Health have long been recognized for visionary research and high-quality clinical services,” said George Garrow, the CEO at Primary Health Network. “Because of the respect and trust that Pennsylvanians have for the University, I believe Penn State is best-positioned to lead efforts at improving the health and health care of communities across the entire state and region.”The CTSI partnership with Allegheny Health Network, an integrated health system that serves 29 Pennsylvania counties, brings frontline clinicians together with Penn State researchers. Together, they collaborate on research to address the needs of communities in western Pennsylvania and expand research education opportunities. For example, Penn State CTSI and AHN have developed a clinical research practice course and internship program, which is currently offered at several Penn State campuses, including Greater Allegheny, New Kensington and University Park.
