Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Applicant Organization Information: Audrain Ambulance District, 440 Kelley Pkwy, Mexico, MO 65265. State Government. https://www.audrainambulance.com. Designated Network Director Information: Josh Loyd, (573) 721-8157, jloyd@audrainambulance.com. Designated Project Director Information: Ron Truax, (314) 761-3058, rontraux@gmail.com. Network Name: Audrain County Health Network. The project meets all three legislative aims #1: Achieve Efficiencies. Aim #2: Expand access to, coordinate and improve the quality of basic health care services and associated health outcomes. Aim #3: Strengthen the local rural health care system. The Audrain County Health Network’s focus area is replicating a model that will provide whole person care (Mobile Integrated Health Care) that improves patient outcomes and addresses health inequities and social driver of health. The proposed service area will be Audrain County, Missouri which is fully rural as defined by the HRSA Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer. The population to be served are all residents living in Audrain County. It includes all the persons who live in the rural service area, who suffer from poorer health outcomes, and are underserved. People who have been negatively impacted by prolonged poverty, the elderly, the Amish community, and people with disabilities will all be included. There are 25,233 people living Audrain County, of which 9,398 of those people are living in a Health Professional Shortage Area of primary care, dental or mental health professionals. This represents 37.26% of the total population. In addition, 100.00% of the HPSA population is underserved. In Audrain County, 38.91% of the total population are living in households with income below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The county has higher poverty rates when compared to national rates, creating an environment of persistent poverty. Of the total population 31.5% are over the age of 55. 19.4% have disabilities which are significantly higher than the state and the US. Network Members: All four Network members have signed a Letter of Commitment. 1. Audrain Ambulance District, State Government; 2. Audrain County Health Department, local public health agency; 3. Arthur Center Community Health, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic/Federally Qualified Health Center. 4. Cornerstone Family Medicine, Direct Primary Care Clinic. Audrain Ambulance District attests that 100 percent of the network composition involved in the proposed project is located in a HRSA-designated rural area, as defined by the Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer. All members are fully committed to integrating their functions and shared resources. The members are fully committed to integrating their functions and sharing resources. All the Network Members have multiple years of experience serving the rural underserved population in Audrain County. The organizations continue to serve, understand the unique challenges, and have future capacity to serve. Each organization has leadership and staff who were born and raised and continue working and living in Audrain County. This brings historical experiences and knowledge on serving the rural underserved population to the Network. Previous collaboration that has benefited the underserved population include mass testing and vaccination events, community education events and marketing strategies, dental screenings, and direct referral, Narcan training and distribution, mobile mammogram screenings. Audrain Ambulance District learned of the grant opportunity through the HRSA News Release. A funding preference is requested under Qualification 1: Health Professional Shortage Area.
