The University of New Hampshire’s Institute for Health Policy and Practice (IHPP) https://chhs.unh.edu/institute-health-policy-practice, with the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center, University of New England, University of Vermont, and the University of Maine, are establishing the Collaborative for Advancing Rural Excellence and Equity (CARE2).
HRSA has funded a five year $2.7 million grant to help healthcare providers and communities address the impact of COVID-19 in northern New England and Northern New York with the focus on the mental and physical health of people in rural areas.
CARE2 will focus on northern regions of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and New York on areas that have large rural sections with aging populations, isolation issues among the aging population due to the pandemic, and an increased rate of substance use. In addition, a shrinking healthcare workforce in these regions has further heightened the need for resources to help providers reach more adults and families in need of services.
CARE2 is going to develop a learning community for a broad spectrum of healthcare providers based on the national Project ECHO model launched by IHPP in 2018. The project will review the effects of the emerging COVID-19 variants as well as the impacts of isolation and the lack of access to treatment for SUDs and behavior health issues.
Project ECHO is an evidence-based method that connects interdisciplinary experts with community-based practitioners to mentor and share expertise through case-based learning sessions.
The model enables practitioners in rural areas to manage complex health related conditions in their own communities. IHPP was the first to launch Project ECHO in New Hampshire and is a formal ECHO Hub partners.
Laura Davie, Co-Director of the Center on Aging and Community Living at IHPP said, “Now is especially the time to bring the region together to address the challenges that older people have experienced, both within long term care facilities and in home and community-based settings.”