CHANGE receives $500,000 rural health transformation grant
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WEIRTON - A local healthcare provider expects to be able to better serve its patients and the community through the support of West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program.
CHANGE, Inc. was announced as the recipient of a $500,000 grant through the program, with Gov. Patrick Morrisey in Weirton Tuesday to meet with staff.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to be here to talk about Rural Health and the role CHANGE Inc provides," Morrisey said. "All of these economic development activities, the focus on the fundamentals, investing in our people, that really takes on a whole new meaning when you look at the work that CHANGE, Inc. has been selected to do."
The grant is the first to be announced through the program’s Provider Productivity Support Fund, which Morrisey explained is one of seven statewide initiatives.
According to Lisa Mowry, CEO of CHANGE, Inc., the funding will be invested into artificial intelligence-based programs to assist with appointment scheduling, referrals, billing questions, documentation tools, and other administrative tasks, with a goal of allowing care providers more time to tend to the needs of their patients.
"We’re grateful for the opportunity," Mowry said.
The grant also will allow for CHANGE to expand its chronic care management services, as well as remote patient monitoring services for patients with diabetes and hypertension.
Morrisey said the program is aimed at creating new efficiencies in the medical fields, which he believes will make a big difference in patient care.
"We want to make sure they’re focused on the patients," the governor said.
Mark Phillips, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of West Virginia, and chair of the board for CHANGE, noted West Virginia’s rankings near the bottom of most categories involved in healthcare.
"It’s a time that requires really large and new ideas," Phillips said of growing efforts to find better ways to care for West Virginians.
CHANGE, Inc. has served area communities for more than 40 years, with medical offices in Weirton, Newell and Wintersville. It has school-based health centers at Brooke High School, Weirton Elementary, Weir Middle and Weir High School, Indian Creek Middle and High schools, Steubenville City Schools and Toronto Schools.
CHANGE also operates the Comfort House Child Advocacy Center, a Domestic Violence Awareness Center, the Lighthouse Domestic Violence Shelter, all in Weirton, and an outreach office in Moundsville.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)