Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Project Description This project aims to assess stigma surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) and ultimately improve access to treatment and recovery services in northeastern Kentucky. The region faces high rates of SUD and overdoses as well as a limited health care service environment. To address these challenges, the project will conduct a comprehensive needs assessment, including surveys and focus groups, to evaluate SUD-related stigma levels among first responders, public officials, health care providers, and health professions trainees. We aim to develop tailored educational programs to the target survey audiences, which could increase access to quality health care for individuals with SUD. Organization name and full address - St. Claire Medical Center, Inc. (dba UK St. Claire); 222 Medical Circle, Morehead, KY 40351) Entity type - Health care system Website URL - https://www.st-claire.org Proposed service region, which includes states, cities, and counties - A 17-county, fully rural region of Kentucky (county: cities): o Bath: Owingsville, Salt Lick, Sharpsburg; o Carter: Grayson, Olive Hill; o Clark: Winchester; o Elliott: Sandy Hook; o Fleming: Ewing, Flemingsburg; o Lawrence: Blaine, Louisa; o Lewis: Concord, Vanceburg; o Magoffin: Salyersville; o Mason: Germantown, Maysville, Sardis; o Menifee: Frenchburg; o Montgomery: Camargo, Jeffersonville, Mt. Sterling; o Morgan: Ezel, West Liberty; o Nicholas: Carlisle o Powell: Clay City, Stanton; o Robertson: Mount Olivet; o Rowan: Lakeview Heights, Morehead; and o Wolfe: Campton, Hazel Green Network name - Northeast Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition Legislative Aim(s) - This project addresses all three legislative aims: o Aim #1: Achieve efficiencies o Aim #2: Expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services o Aim #3: Strengthen the rural health care system Focus area based on community need - SUD-related stigma (NEW) Funding preference UK St. Claire qualifies for the Health Professional Shortage Area funding preference because Elliott County is located in a designated HPSA (Qualification 1). Project Director - Matthew Porter, Outreach Services Coordinator (Northeast KY AHEC), (606) 783-6716, matthew.porter@st-claire.org Population to be Served - Northeastern Kentucky is characterized by high rates of overdose deaths and suicides, high rates of chronic disease, and rampant poverty. For instance, Rowan County had Kentucky’s fourth-highest drug overdose death rate in 2021 (130.8 per 100,000 residents), and the following year Bath County had the state’s highest drug overdose death rate (185.1 per 100,000 residents). Network Members - Clark County Health Department - Gateway District Health Department - UK St. Claire HealthCare - All of our network’s 3 proposed members (100%) are located in a HRSA-designated rural area Experience in Serving Rural Underserved Populations - Throughout UK St. Claire’s 60-year history, it has served a socioeconomically disadvantaged region through various means. UK St. Claire’s service region has high rates of poverty and elderly residents, and thus St. Claire has a very high Medicaid/Medicare patient population (approximately 75%). In order to meet the needs of the service region, St. Claire provided nearly $5.6 million in charity and uncompensated care during fiscal year 2021.
