UA’s Rural Health Conference Focuses on Patient-Centered Partnerships

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — “Partnering for Care: Where Do You Fit?” is the theme for the 11th annual Rural Health Conference, which will be offered Wednesday, Sept. 1, and Thursday, Sept. 2, at the Bryant Conference Center on The University of Alabama campus.

UA’s Institute for Rural Health Research, part of The College of Community Health Sciences, is sponsoring the event.

This year’s theme revolves around the concept of the Patient-Centered Medical Home, or PCMH — an interdisciplinary approach to providing comprehensive primary care for children, youth and adults in a setting that fosters partnerships between physicians and patients. The conference also explores real-world examples of interdisciplinary care in communities.

Conference organizer Dr. Lea Yerby, one of the keynote speakers, will discuss rural health policy and the potential influences of the Patient Production and Affordable Care Act on Alabama.

“Many believe the PCMH is the future of healthcare delivery,”said Yerby, assistant professor in UA’s department of community and rural medicine and investigator in the Institute for Rural Health Research.“This method of common-sense, collaborative care is a natural fit for rural providers. Attendees can garner ideas of how their skills could fit with other providers to offer a needed service in their home area.”

This year’s other keynote speakers include Dr. Paul Grundy, director of IBM Healthcare Transformation, and Dr. Holly Biola, a physician consultant with Community Care of North Carolina. Grundy works to shift health care delivery toward consumer-focused, primary-care systems through the adoption of new philosophies and information technology. Biola directs efforts to help community networks and partner physicians use Medicaid claims data for efforts to improve their practices.

Health-care providers, researchers, community leaders, government officials and representatives of faith-based groups attend the Rural Health Conference each year to hear from prominent speakers in the field and share information and knowledge about rural health-care issues. Breakout sessions at the conference include “Strengthening Healthy Rural Environments” and “Hope for Care: A Community and University Pharmacy Partnership.”

The conference and registration fee is $75 a person and $25 for students. The fee includes breakfast both days and lunch on Wednesday. Continuing Education Units for nurses, pharmacists and counselors will be offered. For more details on the conference, and to download a brochure and registration materials, go to http://rhc.ua.edu or contact the institute at 205/348-0025.

Established in 2001, the Institute for Rural Health Research works to bring the highest attainable standard of health to rural communities. The institute pursues this mission through the combined strength of community involvement, scientific knowledge and informed public policy.

The College of Community Health Sciences operates a comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical clinic, University Medical Center, where College faculty members conduct their medical practices and where students and residents receive clinical experience and training. The College’s research component supports faculty and student research efforts, including clinical trials.