CHARLESTON — West Virginia University Health System will receive more than $3.4 million in state Rural Health Transformation Program funding to improve care for patients with chronic illnesses and help rural hospitals address staffing shortages.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the awards, which will support programs designed to help patients manage their health from home and provide hospitals with additional healthcare workers when staffing needs arise, according to a statement released from the governor’s office.
“West Virginians deserve access to quality healthcare no matter where they live,” Morrisey said. “These investments will help patients manage serious health conditions before they become emergencies while making sure our rural hospitals have the healthcare professionals they need to serve their communities. Better healthcare means healthier West Virginians who can return to work, support their families, and contribute to a stronger economy.”
More than $2.5 million will go toward the state’s Connected Care Grid initiative, which will expand services for West Virginians with diabetes and high blood pressure.
The program will establish a team of nurses and other healthcare professionals based in West Virginia to help patients monitor their conditions at home and connect with medical care when needed. It is expected to serve approximately 1,200 patients during its first year, with services reaching communities in all 55 counties.
The initiative also will allow eligible patients to enroll in monitoring services before leaving the hospital. The goal is to maintain communication between patients and healthcare providers during the transition home and reduce complications associated with chronic illnesses.
“WVU Health already serves patients in communities across West Virginia and has built a strong foundation for delivering innovative care,” state Health Secretary Dr. Arvin Singh said. “This investment allows them to build on that work by helping more people manage chronic conditions, stay connected to their healthcare providers, and access support closer to home.”
A second award of $900,000 will support the Mountain State Care Force initiative, which will create a statewide pool of healthcare professionals who can be assigned to hospitals facing staffing shortages.
The program will prioritize rural and critical access hospitals, helping communities maintain access to essential medical services. Funding also will support efforts to prepare healthcare professionals to work across multiple WVU Health facilities, allowing them to be deployed more quickly when staffing demands increase.
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The initiative is intended to help hospitals respond to workforce shortages while continuing to provide care to residents in the communities they serve.
“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is giving states the resources to strengthen rural health systems to better serve the people who depend on them,” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said. “These investments will help West Virginia expand access to high-quality care, strengthen its rural health workforce, and improve health outcomes for communities across the state.”
Additional awards are expected as West Virginia continues implementing its Rural Health Transformation Program. The state’s efforts focus on improving health outcomes, expanding access to medical services, strengthening the healthcare workforce and helping more residents return to work and lead healthier lives.
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