Virginia

Virginia holds the distinction of being the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents. Virginia covers 39,594 square miles, with a 2006 estimated population of 7,642,884 people – with 1,104,654 people living in rural Virginia (USDA-ERS). Richmond is the state capital. The state’s largest cities are Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake. According to the 2006 Census, 73.3% of the state’s population is white, 19.9% is Black/African-American, and 6.3% is of Hispanic/Latino origin.

There are 91 hospitals in Virginia, 32 of which are located in rural areas (North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center, 2007). The state has 7 hospitals currently identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals. There are 54 Rural Health Clinics in Virginia (CMS, 2008), and 21 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 95 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2006). 13% of Virginia residents lack any health insurance (Kaiser, 2005-2006).

According to the Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for all Virginia residents in 2006 was $39,540, although rural per-capita income lagged at $26,341. Estimates from 2005 indicate a poverty rate of 15.2% exists in rural Virginia, compared to 9.1% in urban areas of the state. Data from 2000 finds that 31.7% of the rural population has not completed high school, while 16.0% of the urban population lacks a high school diploma. The unemployment rate in rural Virginia is 4.2%, while in urban Virginia, it is 2.9% (USDA-ERS, 2007).

For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.

Data Sources:

U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts

USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets

North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center

Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts

Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List

State Contacts

Directory of Rural Health Contacts: Virginia
Contact information for people and organizations in Virginia with an interest in rural health.

Organizations

Center Council for Rural Virginia
State/regional organization
Acts as a resource for government and private-sector partners to help them best meet the needs of the citizens of rural Virginia.

Community Health Resource Center
Nonprofit/Foundation
A Virginia non-profit providing research, education, and technical assistance for community health improvement.

Comprehensive Health Investment Project (CHIP) of Virginia
State/regional organization
Responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of a statewide network of community-based child health and family support programs in Virginia.

Healthy Virginians
State government
Works to promote healthy lifestyles in Virginia's workplaces, schools and among families who receive health care through Medicaid.

Hispanic Committee of Virginia (Comité Hispano de Virginia)
State/regional organization
Helps Hispanic immigrants in Northern Virginia overcome barriers of language, culture, isolation, and poverty by linking them to community services and empowering them with new skills. Provides case management, job matching, and immigration consultations.

HUD Community Development Block Grants: Virginia
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR)
Academic/Research
The Institute for Advanced Learning & Research (IALR) will develop and attract technology and talent critical to Southside Virginia's economic transformation through advanced learning, strategic research and technology transfer, IALR Conference Center activities, IALR outreach programs, and technology infrastructure development. The IALR will leverage the resources of Virginia Tech in partnership with Danville Community College and Averett University and public and private bodies and organizations of the region as a means to that end.

Institute for Community Health
Academic/Research
Helps communities throughout Virginia assess their health needs, implement community-based programs, and evaluate healthy community outcomes. Part of the School of Public and International Affairs at Virginia Tech.

Medical Society of Virginia (MSV)
State/regional organization
Membership organization representing physicians in Virginia.

National Black Farmers Association
National organization
Works to improve the quality of life in rural communities through improved access to credit for small farmers, family farm business development, food distribution, and rural economic development.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region (NN/LM-SE/A)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health care providers, librarians and the public in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia.

National Organization for the Advancement of Hispanics (NOAH)
National organization
Works to provide opportunities for the socio-economic advancement of Hispanics.

Rural Virginia Prosperity Commission
State/regional organization
Studies Virginia's rural economies and recommends state policies to help foster sustainable economic growth in the state's rural areas.

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (Southeast RCAP)
State/regional organization
Helps rural communities in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to improve community infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment.

Southeastern Rural Mental Health Research Center (SRMHRC)
Academic/Research
Works to improve the quality of mental health care for rural, impoverished individuals in the South. Focuses on the delivery of formal and informal services to rural, impoverished, minority, mentally ill persons in the southeastern United States, and on the improvement of patient outcomes.

Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium (GMEC)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to high quality primary care for citizens of Southwest Virginia by forming educational partnerships between communities, local physicians, and primary care residency programs in Virginia, Tennessee North Carolina, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Virginia
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.

University of Virginia Medical Center Office of Telemedicine
Academic/Research
Makes the expertise of health professionals of the University of Virginia Health System available to patients, physicians and other healthcare professionals throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

University of Virginia School of Nursing Rural Health Care Research Center
Academic/Research
Conducts and disseminates research responsive to the health care needs of impoverished individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and the elderly living in rural areas.

USDA Rural Development Virginia State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.

Virginia Academy of Family Physicians
State/regional organization
Strives to ensure quality, accessible health care. Dedicated to the dignity and well being of the citizens of Virginia.

Virginia Action for Healthy Kids
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works in Virginia to address the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes at school.

Virginia Appalachian Regional Commission
State government
Works to foster economic development and to improve the quality of life for Appalachian citizens of Virginia. Provides assistance in the longer-term development of a chronically depressed region which encompasses 23 counties and seven independent cities in Virginia.

Virginia Area Health Education Centers (Virginia AHEC)
State/regional organization
Promote health careers and access to primary care for medically underserved populations in Virginia through community-academic partnerships.

Virginia Association of Area Agencies on Aging
State/regional organization
Works to build the capacity of Virginia's Area Agencies on Aging to help older persons live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible, and to enhance elder rights.

Virginia Association of Community Service Boards (VACSB)
State/regional organization
Works to achieve a publicly-funded system of quality public and private services in Virginia that is responsive to the needs of consumers with mental disabilities and their families.

Virginia Association of Free Clinics
State/regional organization
Membership organization that provides training and technical assistance, research, resource development and advocacy to free clinics throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads (VAVRS)
State/regional organization
Dedicated to Virginia's volunteer rescue squads and other agencies interested in providing the finest in rescue and pre-hospital care.

Virginia Center for Health Outreach (VCHO)
State/regional organization
Supports Community Health Workers (CHWs) and works to increase people's awareness of the use of CHW programs in Virginia.

Virginia Commission on Local Government
State government
Assists counties, cities, and towns in Virginia by providing technical assistance and advisory reports. Part of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Virginia Community Action Partnership (VACAP)
State/regional organization
State association of 26 local Community Action Agencies and four statewide Community Action programs that work to address the problems of the poor and the issue of poverty in Virginia.

Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VACHA)
State/regional organization
Assists Virginia's communities and organizations to improve access to primary health care through private nonprofit community-based systems of care.

Virginia Cooperative Extension
State/regional organization
An educational outreach program of Virginia's land grant universities, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.

Virginia Council of Churches Rural Family Development
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to enable children and adults of farmworker and other rural households to achieve their potential.

Virginia Council on Indians
State government
Advisory board to the Governor and the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Makes recommendations to the Commonwealth on issues regarding Virginia Indians.

Virginia Dental Association (VDA)
State/regional organization
Works to improve the quality of dental education and treatment within the state of Virginia.

Virginia Department for the Aging
State government
Works with local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and other public and private organizations to help older Virginians, their families and loved ones find the services and information they need.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS)
State government
Promotes the economic growth and development of Virginia's agriculture, encourages environmental stewardship, and provides consumer protection.

Virginia Department of Education: Office of Special Education & Student Services
State government
Administers education programs and services for Virginia students with disabilities.

Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)
State government
Protects the lives and property of Virginia's citizens from emergencies and disasters by coordinating the state's emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery efforts.

Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
State government
Works to achieve and maintain optimum personal and community health in Virginia by emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention and environmental protection.

Virginia Department of Health Professions
State government
Works in Virginia to enhance access to and the delivery of safe and competent health care by licensing health care providers and enforcing standards governing their practice.

Virginia Department of Health: Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy (OMHPHP)
State government
Identifies health inequities and their root causes, and addresses them by promoting social justice, influencing policy, establishing partnerships, providing resources and educating the public.

Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
State government
Works to make Virginia's communities safe, affordable, and prosperous places in which to live, work and do business.

Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
State government
Works to provide a system of high quality comprehensive health services to qualifying Virginians and their families.

Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services
State government
Provides leadership and service to improve Virginia's system of quality treatment, habilitation, and prevention services for individuals and their families whose lives are affected by mental illness, mental retardation, or substance use disorders.

Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
State government
Works in partnership with people with disabilities and their families to help individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence and full inclusion into society.

Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS)
State government
Provides assistance to citizens of Virginia through programs that address poverty, abuse and neglect, and achieving self-sufficiency.

Virginia Department of Social Services: Division of Child Support Enforcement
State government
Works to help the children of Virginia by enforcing child support payments.

Virginia Employment Commission
State government
Provides workforce services for businesses, employers and citizens, job opportunities, and labor market information in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Virginia Farm Bureau Federation
State/regional organization
Membership organization of organization of farmers and rural families in Virginia. Works to support its members through legislative lobbying, leadership programs, commodity associations, rural health programs, products, insurance, marketing and other services.

Virginia Head Start Association (VHSA)
State/regional organization
Brings together parents, staff, directors and community partners from the 54 Head Start programs in Virginia to provide leadership, education, information and advocacy on behalf of children and families.

Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Foundation supporting projects to make primary health care more available to uninsured and medically underserved Virginians.

Virginia Health Information (VHI)
State/regional organization
Works with private organizations and public bodies to use health data to meet the varied needs of the citizens of Virginia.

Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (VAHCC)
State/regional organization
Works to empower Hispanics in the Virginia business community by building economic, social, and cultural bridges between Virginia and its growing Hispanic community.

Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA)
State/regional organization
Has 51 member health systems and hospitals, representing 99 community, psychiatric and specialty hospitals throughout Virginia. Their mission is to improve the health status of the communities they serve.

Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA)
State government
Virginia's mortgage finance agency. Works to help low- and moderate-income Virginians attain quality, affordable housing.

Virginia Joint Commission on Health Care (Virginia JCHC)
State government
A legislative commission dedicated to ensuring that the greatest possible number of Virginians receives quality, cost-effective health care services.

Virginia Justice Center for Farm and Immigrant Workers
State/regional organization
Supports low-wage immigrant workers throughout Virginia in their efforts to be treated fairly in the workplace. A program of the Legal Aid Justice Center.

Virginia Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers Advisory Board
State government
Reviews, coordinates, evaluates and addresses issues regarding the migrant and seasonal farmworkers of Virginia.

Virginia Office Of Community Capacity Building
State government
Provides capacity building assistance to Virginia's community development and housing partners. Part of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

Virginia Office of Mental Retardation Services
State government
Supports the development of communities that support and affirm all persons with developmental disabilities and their families as participating and contributing members.

Virginia Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources
State government
Oversees 12 state agencies which provide services to Virginians with mental retardation, mental illness, substance abuse, and physical disabilities, to low-income working families. In addition, agencies provide services to the aging community, ensure safe drinking water in the Commonwealth, and license health practitioners.

Virginia On the Move
State/regional organization
Promotes lifelong physical activity and healthy eating for Virginians. Coordinated by Virginia Tech's Center for Food and Nutrition Policy.

Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association (VOMA)
State/regional organization
Membership organization of osteopathic physicians practicing in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Works to promote the public health, scientific research and improvement of the health care delivery system.

Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA)
State/regional organization
Strives to improve the health of Virginia's rural residents by providing care, and planning for the delivery of care and health care services.

Virginia Rural Health Resource Center (VRHRC)
Nonprofit/Foundation
Provides technical assistance, facilitates rural health research and collaborates with various public and private organizations to identify and address rural health issues in Virginia

Virginia State Office of Rural Health
State government
Collects and disseminates information; provides technical assistance; helps coordinate rural health interests state-wide; and supports efforts to improve recruitment and retention of health professionals.

Virginia Tech Rural Economic Analysis Program (REAP)
Academic/Research
Provides the results of economic analyses and conducts educational programs to help ensure competitiveness, economic viability, and quality of life in rural communities throughout Virginia.

Virginia Telehealth Network (VTN)
State/regional organization
Works to advance the adoption, implementation and integration of telehealth and related technologies into models of healthcare statewide.

Virginia, Maryland and Delaware Association of Electrical Cooperatives (VMDAEC)
State/regional organization
Membership association of consumer-owner electric cooperatives in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.

Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service
Academic/Research
Provides policy analysis, applied research, technical assistance, leadership development, survey research, consultation, and training for Virginia's state and local officials, community leaders, and the general public.

Yes Virginia (Virginia Economic Development Partnership)
State government
Works to enhance the quality of life and raise the standard of living for all Virginians, in collaboration with Virginia communities, through aggressive business recruitment, expansion assistance, and trade development.

Tools

AgrAbility Virginia
Web site
Helps individuals with disabilities in Virginia overcome barriers to continue in their chosen profession in agriculture. Project partners include Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension, Easter Seals Virginia, Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, Virginia Assistive Technology Partnership, and the Virginia Farm Bureau Safety.

Commonwealth's Healthy Approach and Mobilization Plan for Inactivity, Obesity and Nutrition (CHAMPION)
Web site
Information and resources related to Virginia's statewide plan addressing prevention and control of obesity.
Sponsoring organization: Vermont Department of Health

Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Health Care Services for Virginians Resource Guide
Web site
Provides general, language, and research resources related to providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health care in Virginia. Includes a calendar of events for training and conferences.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health

ERS State Fact Sheet: Virginia
Web site
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service

Family Access to Medical Insurance Security
Web site
Provides information about three of Virginia's health insurance programs: FAMIS, the Children's Health Insurance Program; FAMIS MOMS for pregnant women; and the Smiles For Children dental program. Includes information about eligibility and how to apply to the programs.

Insure More Virginians
Web site
Information and resources related to health insurance and the uninsured in Virginia. Includes regional health insurance resources and data within Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health

My Water's Fluoride: Virginia
Web site
Information on fluoridated drinking water in Virginia's cities and counties.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Virginia
Web site
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

NN/LM Southeastern Atlantic Region: Virginia Resources
Web site
Overview of the state, with links to state health associations and agencies and health sciences libraries in Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region

Prescription Drug Assistance Programs Available In Virginia
Web site
Provides contact information, eligibility and benefits for prescription drug assistance programs in Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department for the Aging

Primary Practice Opportunities of Virginia
Web site
Comprehensive health care provider resource designed to assist in the recruitment of health care providers throughout Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health

SeniorNavigator: Virginia's Resource for Health and Aging
Web site
Provides access to nearly 19,000 health and aging resources for Virginia's seniors, their families and caregivers.

State Profiles- Virginia: Health Information Technology (HIT)
Web site
Profiles the state’s health information technology (HIT) issues. Contains sections on demographics, HIT legislation, telemedicine, Health Information Exchanges (HIE) & Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIO), grant funded HIT projects, and HIT survey information.
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Resource Center

VCU Department of Family Medicine Inner City/Rural Preceptorship
Web site
Provides information about the program, which provides enrichment activities for students interested in practicing in medically underserved communities in Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Family Medicine

Virginia QuickFacts
Web site
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau

Virginia Atlas of Community Health
Web site
Provides access to population, economic and health indicators by town and ZIP code in Virginia. Free, but registration is required.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Center for Healthy Communities

Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine Rural and Underserved Clinical Training
Web site
Overview of a medical curriculum that provides significant training experiences in rural areas.
Sponsoring organization: Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Virginia Community Level Information on Kids (CLIKS)
Web site
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation

Virginia Grants and Funding
Web site
Information about state and national funding programs to support community health in Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health

Virginia Health Centers Data
Web site
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.

Virginia Health Workforce: Highlights from the Health Workforce Profile
Web site
Highlights compile 2000 data on levels of employment, projected growth and key environmental factors that affect demand for health care. Details for medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, mental health and aides.
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Workforce Analysis

Virginia J1 Visa Waiver Information
Web site
Overview of the J-1 Visa Waiver program in Virginia, how to apply, and which areas of Virginia are eligible. The J-1 Visa Waiver allows International Medical Graduates who complete medical training in the United States to stay and practice primary care in a shortage area.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia State Office of Rural Health

Virginia State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation

Virginia Tech Pesticide Safety Education
Web site
Statewide Virginia educational program with an overall goal to protect the environment and the public health from improper pesticide use through applicator and public education. Provides and information and resources for pesticide safety education.

Virginia's State Rural Health Plan
Web site
Highlights a three to five year strategic plan designed to strengthen the health care infrastructure in rural areas in Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health: Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy

See also: Resources for All States: Tools

Maps & Map Collections

Virginia Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas
Geographic coverage: Virginia
Map of Dental Health Professional Shortage Area (DHPSA) Designations in Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia State Office of Rural Health
Date: 2006

Virginia Medically Underserved Areas
Geographic coverage: Virginia
Map of Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs) in Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia State Office of Rural Health
Date: 2006

Virginia Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas
Geographic coverage: Virginia
Map of Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (MHPSA) Designations in Virginia.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia State Office of Rural Health
Date: 2006

Virginia Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Areas
Geographic coverage: Virginia
Map of Primary Care Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Designations in Virginia.
Date: 2006

Virginia Rural Definition Maps
Geographic coverage: Virginia
Set of maps showing the geographic coverage provided by 9 different rural definitions for the state.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service

See also: Resources for All States: Maps

Funding

Appalachian Community Fund General Program
Grants are given to community-based organizations that address underlying causes of the economic and social distress to the Central region of Appalachia.

BJ’s Charitable Foundation
Funding for safety, security and well-being of children and families, education and health programs, community service opportunities, and hunger and disaster relief.

Rural Dental Scholarship Program
A scholarship program for rural dental students.

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Loan Fund Program
Provides low-interest loans to low-income rural communities for predevelopment costs, system upgrades and new construction of water and wastewater services and facilities.

Sustainable Community Innovation Grants Program
Funds projects that work to strengthen both agriculture and Southern communities by building explicit linkages between sustainable agriculture and rural community development.

Virginia Dentist Loan Repayment Program
In exchange for a loan repayment award, participating dentists will practice in a dentally underserved area in Virginia and are required to accept government-sponsored insurance programs (e.g., Medicaid, FAMIS).

Virginia Health Care Foundation Grants
Funding for projects to grow and/or strengthen Virginia's health care safety net.

Virginia Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) Grant Program
Grants to Virginia non-profit EMS agencies and organizations.

Inactive Funding

Inactive Funding Opportunities - Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.

Documents, Reports and Other Publications

Demographic and Economic Profile: Virginia
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, health care services, and employment. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 10 / 2006

Guide to Serving Farmworkers in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Directory of services available to farmworkers in Virginia. Covers health services, education, social services, legal services, employment and training, and other services.

Health Care Access in Southwest Virginia (Executive Summary)
Sponsoring organization: Southwest Virginia Graduate Medical Education Consortium
Summarizes the results of a study of health care access in Southwest Virginia conducted in 2001. Includes information on health status and barriers to accessing health services in the region.
Date: 01 / 2002

Small Business Profile: Virginia
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2006

State Profiles - Virginia: Reforming the Health Care System
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
Detailed profile of the state's health care system. Covers demographics, expenditures and financing, health status, utilization and quality of services, health care providers, Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance coverage, and key trends.
Date: 12 / 2005

See also: Resources for All States: Documents

Journals

Virginia - Health Equity Matters
Quarterly newsletter which focuses on inequities related to socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, geography and living environment, and access to health care.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Department of Health: Office of Minority Health and Public Health Policy

Virginia - Weekly Updates
Weekly news updates.
Sponsoring organization: Virginia Rural Health Association

Success Stories

Appal-Link: The Southwestern Virginia Telepsychiatry Project
A state psychiatric hospital in southwestern Virginia is using interactive video teleconferencing to provide medication management to rural patients at seven remote outpatient facilities.

Dickenson County Virginia Child Care Center
Several organizations in Dickenson County Virgina worked together to build a state-of-the-art child care facility to serve workers at technology-based customer-service call centers.

Nelson County Rural Health Outreach
This Rural Health Outreach Program launched a school nursing program that placed registered nurses in each of the six Nelson County public schools as well as creating a supplementary health education program provided by a registered nurse who traveled to each site.

People Incorporated of Southwest Virginia Project
The goals of the project are to improve the overall health of low-income families in the four rural counties, increase physician knowledge of community-based resources to support low-income patients' self-efficacy, and provide community-based experience to medical residents.

Rural Health Outreach Consortium
The Rural Health Outreach Consortium, a consortium of health and human service agencies in Bath County, Virginia, has formed to sponsor a community wellness program for county residents.