News

HAZARD, Ky. (April 12, 2021) — The Eastern Kentucky Stroke Warriors, a support group of stroke survivors and caregivers, announced the first Rural Appalachia Stroke Camp will be held Sept. 25, 2021, at Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park. The group is partnering with the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (UK CERH) and the Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network (KARRN) to host stroke survivors and caregivers for a fun-filled day to relax, learn and rejuvenate.

Hazard, Ky. (Mar. 22, 2021) – Researchers at the University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health (UK CERH) have released COVID-19 Stakeholder Experiences in Kentucky, a report that details the findings of surveys taken by more than 900 healthcare providers, school leaders, community health workers and their clients, and community members in Kentucky during the summer and fall of 2020. 

Thirty years ago, the University of Kentucky and its College of Medicine established the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health.

Since that time, CERH, which also serves as the federally designated Kentucky Office of Rural Health, has been supporting the health and well-being of rural Kentuckians by promoting access to health services and educational opportunities.

An innovative research project in Perry and Knott Counties that connects Community Health Workers (CHWs) with local drone pilots to deliver Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to households in Appalachian Kentucky during the COVID-19 pandemic has received tremendous media interest.

The Kentucky Office of Rural Health (KORH) recently received the Excellence in Education Award, one of the annual MediStar Awards given to health care organizations and professionals in Kentucky and southern Indiana by IGE Media, publisher of the Medical News.

The award is presented to an organization that takes creative approaches to developing and implementing programs that enhance the level of knowledge, and educational and career opportunities for health care professionals.

Ten organizations were nominated for the award this year.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 15, 2020) — The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many new actions to our daily lives — wearing masks, washing hands more frequently, and watching our distance from others. Add these health behaviors on top of already existing challenges like isolation, transportation and access to health care, and creative solutions are more necessary than ever. 

Health and Wellbeing: Rural Strengths and Challenges 
Virtual Seminar SeriesHosted by the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health Research Committee
with representation from the UK College of Health Sciences, College of Public Health, College of Social Work and the College of Medicine

 

Congratulations to our UK CERH Director Dr. Fran Feltner!  She was named the statewide Community Health Champion this week at the inaugural Community Health Champions Awards, sponsored by WellCare of Kentucky.  The ceremony was held virtually on Oct. 28 to recognize honorees across the commonwealth.

“Dr. Feltner represents exactly the type of service, commitment, and passion that we want to support in Kentucky,” said Ben Orris, chief operating officer for WellCare of Kentucky. “We know that people like Dr. Feltner help make Kentucky communities healthier.”

The Hazard & Surrounding Area Stroke Survivor and Caregiver Support Group would like to announce October 29th is World Stroke Day. Learn the signs and symptoms of a stroke. Remember the acronym BE FAST: Balance (Loss of balance, dizziness, or headache), Eyes (Blurred Vision), Face (One side of the face is drooping), Arm (Arm or leg weakness), Speech (Speech Difficulties) and Time (Time to call 9-1-1).

UK CERH has been selected to showcase at the 2020 Shaping Our Appalachian Region Summit, October 28-30! Please join us during the Virtual Exhibit Hall.  Our virtual booth will be open for chats and videos to showcase the many exciting programs and opportunities at the Center.  Check out our video agenda below, which will repeat approximately each hour.  Click the link below for more information and door prizes. 

 

VIDEO AGENDA

If trick-or-treating is permitted in your community, please trick-or-treat the safe way.  Kentucky Public Health is offering guidance that is designed to help curb the spread of COVID-19. It will be reassessed and updated as the situation evolves and more is learned in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

The UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health, in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department for Public Health and Deloitte, hosted a virtual Contact Tracing Engagement event on September 22, 2020.

Mark Carter, Executive Director of the Kentucky Contact Tracing effort, provided a brief overview of the Contact Tracing process, expanded on communication efforts across the Commonwealth, and followed up with a Q&A session.

The University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health and the UK CCTS Community Engagement and Research Program are requesting applications for the 2020 Community Leadership Institute of Kentucky (CLIK). CLIK is an intensive leadership development training program in Hazard, Kentucky.  It is designed to enhance research and capacity-building competencies in community leaders, senior staff, directors and administrators.

Hazard, Ky. (Aug. 17, 2020) – The 6th Annual Appalachian Research Day (ARD): Come Sit on the Porch will be held as a virtual seminar series, beginning Sept. 16, 2020.  ARD is an annual event hosted by the UK Center of Excellence in Rural Health to share results of health research conducted with communities in Appalachia.

“Disseminating health disparities research findings at the local level is something our Center is strongly committed to,” said Dr. Fran Feltner, director of the UK CERH.

Roughly one in seven Americans live with a disability that impacts daily mobility. The average cost of a wheelchair ranges from $500 to $2,000 without insurance, seriously curbing access to this essential equipment for patients who lack proper coverage. The University of Kentucky’s Center of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) in Hazard is working to bridge this gap for Kentucky patients through a project that repairs and redistributes used medical equipment to communities in need.

Jun 18, 2020