Radford University, Pulaski County host event exploring solutions for better health outcomes in Southwest Virginia

Building on its commitment to help optimize the health outcomes and wellbeing of residents in Southwest Virginia, Radford University partnered with Pulaski County on Aug. 5 to host “Community Paramedicine and Mobile Health Clinic Initiatives.” Held in Kyle Hall on Radford University’s main campus, the event was attended by 70 EMS professionals, healthcare and social services professionals, public health officials, community partners and government officials.

Paramedic Erika Dalton presented key aspects of Pulaski County’s paramedic program, whose core objectives are to reduce preventable emergencies, improve health literacy, strengthen emergency preparedness and decrease non-emergent use of EMS. The program’s work is built on an evolving healthcare model called Mobile Integrated Healthcare – Community Paramedicine. This model allows EMTs and paramedics to operate in expanded roles to assist with public health, primary healthcare and preventive services to underserved populations in the community.

Radford nursing instructor Christina Powell and Amanda Hudgins, director of research and innovation in the College of Nursing, also gave a presentation on Radford University’s CARES Mobile Health Clinic, an initiative launched earlier this year through a partnership with Anthem HealthKeepers Plus. The mobile clinic expands access to maternal health services, preventive care and health education in underserved communities while creating valuable experiential learning opportunities for our students. The CARES solution uses a hub-and-spoke model with local schools, healthcare organizations, maternal health programs, behavioral health services and community-based organizations. In its first three months, the mobile clinic has tallied 58 patient encounters, 35 maternal visits and 23 back-to-school physicals, offering faculty and students 718 engagement hours.

The two presentations were followed by a question-and-answer session and open discussion, concluding with a networking event for attendees.

The event produced several key takeaways, including the critical role that collaboration across organizations plays in improving health outcomes, as well as the efficacy of community paramedicine and mobile health initiatives in addressing rural healthcare challenges, including limited access to care, transportation barriers, chronic disease, healthcare workforce shortages and non-emergent use of EMS.

In addition, a survey was distributed to attendees following the meeting for feedback to determine next steps. The two partner-hosts will meet at the end of August to review the survey responses and begin planning for the next event. The survey also sought to identify attendees who are interested in serving on the advisory board of new Community Paramedicine Education courses being developed by Radford University’s emergency services program and scheduled to be offered for the fall 2027 semester.  
Advisory board members will assist in developing curriculum for these courses and provide opportunities for students enrolled in the courses to get clinical training experience at their sites.

“No single organization can solve the complex health challenges facing rural communities alone,” said Kari Whitney, director of the emergency services program at Radford University. “By combining Pulaski County’s Community Paramedicine program with Radford University’s mobile health clinic, education and workforce-development efforts, we have an opportunity to build sustainable solutions that improve access, strengthen care coordination, and positively impact community health across Southwest Virginia.”