Patterson Health Center Awarded $150,000 Grant
Patterson Health Center has been awarded $150,000 through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Community Health Worker + Accountable Food is Medicine Grant Program.
Patterson Health Center is one of seven rural healthcare organizations across Kansas selected to receive funding through the program. In total, more than $1 million was awarded to support projects that improve access to health services, community resources and nutrition-focused interventions in rural communities.
The grant will allow Patterson Health Center to build upon and expand work already underway, including mobile integrated health, visiting RN services and programs that support patients in making sustainable lifestyle changes to better manage chronic conditions.
“This funding will allow Patterson Health Center to build upon and expand work already underway, including mobile integrated health, visiting RN services and programs that help patients make sustainable lifestyle changes to better manage chronic conditions such as diabetes,” said Sarah Teaff, PhD, FACHE, CEO of Patterson Health Center. “These efforts are part of our larger vision to move care beyond the walls of the hospital and clinic by reaching people earlier, strengthening prevention and helping rural Kansans stay healthier at home and in their communities.”
The funding also aligns with priorities identified through Patterson Health Center’s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment. Harper County residents identified access to affordable healthy foods, poverty and home health among the community's needs, along with substance abuse, mental health services and emergency medical services.
The Community Health Worker + Accountable Food is Medicine Grant Program is designed to help rural healthcare organizations connect individuals with healthcare, social services and other resources that support better health. Community health workers can help patients navigate services and address barriers that may affect their ability to access care and maintain their health.
The Accountable Food is Medicine component focuses on the role nutrition can play in preventing and managing chronic disease. The program supports healthcare-based nutrition interventions and the services and infrastructure needed to connect patients with those resources. Under federal funding restrictions, grant dollars cannot be used to directly purchase food.
Recipients were selected through a competitive application process based on community need, long-term financial sustainability, innovation and alignment with state and federal rural health priorities.
The $150,000 award will help Patterson Health Center continue developing services that respond to the needs of rural Kansans and support its ongoing efforts to provide care and resources closer to home.