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Project ECHO receives $4.5M to improve rural health care

and connect with specialists at academic medical centers through a digital platform for discussion and training.

Marshall Snipe is the chair of the TSET Board of Directors and said the access to quality health care is vital.

OSU Center for Health Sciences was awarded $4.5 million over the span of three years for the growth of Project ECHO.

The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Board of Directors bestowed this award as a partnership with OSU and will aid the program that is designed to enhance health care in rural areas.

The Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes model and project allows health care providers in underserved and rural areas to contact

“TSET is excited to partner with OSU to increase the impact of Project ECHO around the state,” Snipe said. “Access to quality health care is key to improving the overall health of all Oklahomans.”

Because of hospital closures and provider shortages, rural communities, which account for nearly 34% of Oklahoma’s population, struggle to supply strong access to quality health care. Oklahoma ranks No. 47 in active primary care physicians per 100,000 people and No. 48 in the number of active physicians.

Restriction of access to constant, quality health care leads to higher rates of death because of more advanced diseases diagnosed at later stages and unregulated chronic illness. With limited options for specialists and fewer providers, complicated medical cases can be hard to manage in rural or small hospitals.

With the expansion of Medicaid and an aging population, the system is expected to burden additional strain in the upcoming years.

Dr. Johnny Stephens, president of OSU-CHS, said this partnership will allow a larger expansion to the areas of Oklahoma that need it.

“We are grateful to partner with TSET to expand access to health care with the goal of improving health outcomes in rural areas of our state,” Stephens said. “With this generous funding, Project ECHO will expand lines of care to support more health providers and physicians across the entire state of Oklahoma. Our mission and passion at OSU-CHS is to train health profes- sionals to serve rural and underserved populations, as well as to provide innovative solutions to support Oklahoma health providers.”

In the last six years using the ECHO model, OSU-CHS has reached over 70,000 participants in all 77 counties. The new TSET funding will help reinforce and support the growth of new lines of ECHO care, such as pediatric obesity, diabetes and hypertension management.

Project ECHO strengthens rural health systems by decreasing provider isolation and increasing retention in rural areas. It also shows the magnitude for effective and safe treatment of common, complex and chronic diseases in underserved and rural areas. For more information regarding the partnership between OSU and TSET, please visit medicine.okstate.edu.