TUSCALOOSA, AL — Four Tuscaloosa-based institutions will receive more than $13 million in grants aimed at improving rural health care across Alabama.
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This will include funding for cardiovascular specialists, medical transportation, cybersecurity and workforce development.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday the first round of grants through the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program, awarding 138 grants totaling more than $144 million to health care providers and institutions statewide.
Tuscaloosa-based recipients include DCH Health System, the University of Alabama, Whatley Health Services and the Alabama Fire College.
DCH received a combined $5 million through two grants.
The health system was awarded $3 million to recruit and retain two interventional cardiologists, one heart rhythm specialist and two advanced practice providers. Ivey said the project is intended to strengthen access to cardiovascular care across Tuscaloosa and 10 other West Alabama counties.
DCH also received $2 million to establish a dedicated non-emergency medical transportation program designed to improve access to health care and patient transportation throughout West Alabama. That project will serve Fayette, Pickens, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Sumter, Marengo, Choctaw and Bibb counties.
The University of Alabama was awarded a combined $3.91 million for two projects.
UA will receive $2.45 million to establish a shared support hub for rural health care providers. The project will focus on improving patient referral coordination, health information technology and cybersecurity preparedness across 12 counties, including Tuscaloosa.
Another $1.46 million will go toward UA's Brain Health Rural Integrated Delivery and Guidance Exchange, a statewide initiative intended to connect services involving brain injuries, mental health, substance use and social needs.
Whatley Health Services was awarded $3.49 million to improve electronic health records, cybersecurity and information technology across its rural clinic network in Tuscaloosa, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Walker counties.
The Alabama Fire College, meanwhile, received $756,559 to expand emergency medical services education in rural communities statewide. This funding will provide scholarship-supported training for volunteer firefighters, rescue squad members, career firefighters, ambulance service employees and others seeking EMS credentials.
Combined, the grants awarded directly to the four Tuscaloosa institutions total approximately $13.16 million.
The grants are part of the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program, which includes 11 initiatives.
The first round provides funding under five areas: rural health, rural workforce, mental health, rural health practice and collaborative electronic health record, information technology and cybersecurity initiatives.
Ivey said the projects are supported through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alabama's overall financial assistance award totals more than $203 million, according to the governor's office.
"Alabama is serious about creating systematic changes through the ARHTP to ensure every citizen has access to quality care," Ivey said Monday.
Additional grants under the program's remaining initiatives are expected to be announced later.
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