In 2022, IPHI expanded its focus to include support for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and medical providers in rural areas. This 3-year project is funded by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation.

Through the project, IPHI and various community partners will:

1. Create a tool to simplify navigation for people seeking MS resources.
2. Provide education and training to service providers.
3. Improve access, delivery, and use of MS care for people living with MS in rural areas.
4. Increase public awareness about MS, including its risk factors, early signs and symptoms, and treatment options.

Many rural residents impacted by complex, chronic health conditions like MS often do not get the help or social services needed. Rural residents are burdened because services and resources do not exist in the area or are inaccessible due to barriers like transportation, cost, awareness, technology, mistrust, etc. As a result, people living in rural areas can go undiagnosed longer, face misdiagnoses, experience more treatment disruptions, and receive less support to address social determinants of health.

Scope of work:

The IPHI team is focusing on identifying and improving access in rural communities. Through the grant, non-specialty health providers will receive education and training on MS risk factors, early signs and symptoms, treatments, and resources. Rural residents will be engaged through convenings, focus groups, interviews, and community events to increase awareness of MS and connect affected residents to resources. Other activities include collaborating with mobile health units and similar community-based services to reach people where they are.

In partnership with VirginiaNavigator, IPHI will create a network map of health and social support resources in the project’s target area. The team will also establish Navigation Centers where community leaders will be trained on how to use the network map and provide navigation assistance. All activities will be informed by people living with MS, care partners, and community professionals.

The project will focus on these rural communities (collaborations and resources may be state-wide):

Upcoming Training:

First (1st) Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. EST – Launching January 3, 2024

Resources:

• Informing Educational Outreach/Curriculum with the ECHO Needs Assessment 

Explore a prototype of the network map that identifies organizations located in or serving residents of Virginia living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, ALS, Huntington’s disease (HD), MS, and Parkinson’s disease.

• Health and Social Support Resources for People Most Impacted by Neurodegenerative Disease in Virginia 

Learn more about issues affecting rural areas and how to identify counties for intervention.

• Identifying Critical Access Rural Counties in MD, NC, VA, and WV for Multiple Sclerosis Education and Care Interventions

Help recruit new collaborators by identifying key service providers and sharing these materials.

• Rural MS Solutions Overview, PowerPoint Slides
• Rural MS Solutions Overview, PDF

Understand the perspectives and priorities of people impacted by MS in rural areas by hearing key insights from a convening hosted in rural Virginia.

• Convening Event Summary – Informing the Need

Acknowledgments:

Special thanks to our funders and partners:

• Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation
• Can Do MS
• MS Alliance
• VirginiaNavigator
• West Virginia Clinical & Translational Science Institute