Friday, May 9, 2025
5/9/2025
Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Applicant Organization Banner Health Foundation, 2901 N. Central Avenue, Suite 160, Phoenix, AZ 85012 Facility/Entity Type: FQHC Website Address: www.bannerhealthfoundation.org Designated Project Director Sara Kemper, Senior RN Clinical Stroke Program Manager and TeleStroke Coordinator, 307-577-2713, sara.kemper@bannerhealth.com Track Regular Network Planning Grant Track Network Planning Grant Project Wyoming Medical Center TeleStroke Network Legislative Aim To improve outcomes for patients suffering from stroke in rural communities in Wyoming by providing access to advanced cutting-edge stroke care. Focus Area Wyoming Medical Center’s focus area is Access to Health Care Proposed Service Region 9 Wyoming counties: Carbon, Converse, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, and Weston Abstract Nearly half of Wyoming citizens live an hour or more from the nearest hospital, and that hospital is typically a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). Quick, accurate diagnosis is essential for patients suffering a stroke to ensure they are treated in time for the best possible outcome. Wyoming Medical Center (WYMC) has been engaged with community hospitals for many years to develop a statewide system of care for stroke patients. In 2018, TeleStroke Wyoming was launched as a partnership between WYMC and two CAH sites. Today, it partners with nine CAH sites, connecting CAH emergency room physicians with WYMC neurologists to collaboratively devise the best treatment plans for stroke patients in real time. A Network Planning Grant would help WYMC and the participating CAHs formalize the TeleStroke Wyoming program network, with the aim to 1) improve patient outcomes and increase consistency in the quality of care received; 2) mentor CAHs to obtain primary stroke center certification; 3) achieve financial viability and sustainability for a statewide system of stroke care. The TeleStroke Wyoming network serves 9 of Wyoming’s 16 CAHs, all in rural areas, per HRSA’s Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer: Hot Springs Health, Johnson County Healthcare Center, Memorial Hospital of Carbon County, Memorial Hospital of Converse County, SageWest Healthcare-Lander, SageWest Healthcare-Riverton, Sheridan Memorial Hospital, West Park Hospital, and Weston County Health Services. All are fully prepared to integrate their functions and share clinical and/or administrative resources. The program targets rural Wyoming residents, who often have fewer individual resources, lower incomes and less education. Many face barriers related to access to housing, transportation, food, and water that are safe, healthy, and affordable. Major risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, diabetes, heart and blood vessel diseases, and high cholesterol, which are experienced disproportionately by lower-income communities. The patients served by Telestroke Wyoming in 2021 were: 56% male and 44% female; 91.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.5% Asian, 1.8% American Indian, and 5.4% Other; and 3% age 18-45, 35% age 46-65, 49% age 66-85, and 13% age 86 and older. Rural patients will receive life-saving care as their health care providers consult with WYMC neurologists and the collaborative Get With the Guidelines-Stroke performance improvement program, demonstrated to improve adherence to evidence-based care of patients hospitalized with stroke. Network partners will consider the development of a Stroke System Coordinating Council that will engage community members and stroke survivorsThe partners will continue to include the community in their Community Health Needs Assessments and on their respective boards. Funding Preference We meet Qualification 1: Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and Qualification 2: Medically Underserved Community/Populations (MUC/MUPs) for funding preferences. 100% or network partners are in HPSAs with either part or all of the counties being impacted and 40% are in MUC/MUPs.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).