Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant Program - Applicant Organization: Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona 1200 E University Blvd Tucson, AZ 85721 Entity: Institution of Higher Education https://www.arizona.edu/ Proposed Service Regions in Montana: Colstrip (Rosebud County), Culbertson (Roosevelt County), Roundup (Musselshell County), Scobey (Daniels County), and Hardin (Big Horn County). Network Name: Montana Family Pharmacies Community Health Network Legislative Aims: #1: Achieve efficiencies; #2: Expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of basic health care services; #3: Strengthen the rural health care system as a whole Focus Area: University of Arizona’s focus area is Improving Healthcare Access through Needs Assessments. Funding Preference: University of Arizona is requesting funding preference based on Qualification 1: Health Professional Shortage Area because the pharmacies we aim to work with are all located in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area. Program Overview: Rural communities across Montana face significant barriers to healthcare access, including geographic isolation, provider shortages, and financial constraints. Independent pharmacies, often the most accessible healthcare providers in rural areas, are well-positioned to expand preventive care, chronic disease management, and wellness services. This project will establish the Montana Family Pharmacies Community Health Network to assess healthcare needs, disparities, and opportunities to develop a sustainable pharmacy-led wellness framework that will expand care access for rural Montanans. Network members include University of Arizona, Montana Family Pharmacies, 406 Rx, and Healthy Is Wellness. Goal 1: Patient needs assessment surveys. Through needs assessment surveys, the network will assess rural patients’ healthcare needs and disparities, identify gaps in care, evaluate their knowledge of and access to community resources, and explore their interest in a pharmacy-provided wellness program that connects them to these resources and addresses unmet health needs. Goal 2: Employers’ priorities interviews. Through interview with local employers, the network will determine employers’ priorities, needs, and expectations to enhance their pharmacy-delivered employee wellness programs, emphasizing workforce health promotion. Goal 3: Community pharmacy capacity survey. Through surveys, the network will evaluate community pharmacies’ capacity and readiness to deliver wellness programs, identify potential barriers to implementation, and propose strategies to overcome these challenges while improving access to care in rural areas. Goal 4: Develop framework for wellness program. After completion of the surveys and interviews, the network members will synthesize all data to develop a sustainable and equity-centered framework for a pharmacy-provided wellness program that integrates the diverse needs, priorities, and assets of patients, employers, and pharmacies, while fostering collaboration with community resources. University of Arizona, a national leader in rural health research, community-based participatory research, and healthcare data analysis, will lead survey design, data collection, and program evaluation. Montana Family Pharmacies will engage independent pharmacies across the state to ensure broad participation, while 406 Rx will provide on-the-ground pharmacy insights. Healthy Is Wellness will facilitate employer engagement, leveraging its expertise in workplace wellness programs. This initiative will ensure that independent pharmacies continue to be essential healthcare access points, leading to improved healthcare utilization, chronic disease management, preventative care, and stronger rural healthcare networks. By leveraging local expertise, data-driven planning, and interorganizational collaboration, this project will serve as a replicable model for pharmacy-provided healthcare solutions in rural communities nationwide.
