MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Rural health took center stage in Montgomery this past week as a state leaders and community stakeholder workshop to discuss how Alabama can use its $203 million award through the Rural Health Transformation Program.
Ideas, from maternal and fetal health, EMS, to mental health initiatives, were among the ideas discussed. The funds will not be used to re-open rural hospitals that have shut down, but instead will be used to strengthen or expand existing resources to build a foundation that it lives beyond the current funding.
Some attendees highlighted programs already operating locally that they hope can be scaled statewide. epresentative Edward Oliver from District 81, pointed to a treat-in-place service in the Lake Martin area, designed to help reduce ambulance transport needs for low-acuity calls, utilizing a pick up truck with a paramedic that treats patients in place. that avoids taking ambulance resources out of service for rural calls. Such workshop discussions have been, and will continue taking place in other parts of the state.
