April 9, 2024
Supporting Rural Health Care and Communities Through K-State 105
We had the opportunity to celebrate some exciting news last week: Kansas State University and The University of Kansas Health System announced a new partnership -- through K-State 105 -- to work together to help health care in rural Kansas communities.
This type of partnership is first-of-its-kind. A statewide partner like The University of Kansas Health System -- the state’s only academic health system -- gives us the opportunity to bring our community health and vitality programming to new heights and to serve Kansans in new ways.
It is yet another example of the important ways that K-State Research and Extension contributes to the K-State 105 initiative. Health care access is also an economic issue: communities and their workforces need access to quality health care and services. By working with the Care Collaborative at The University of Kansas Health System, we can work within our local communities to help them find local solutions.
I hope you are as excited as I am about the possibilities of this partnership.
We will get to play a collaborative role in exploring what this partnership does. As K-State Research and Extension professionals, you work and live in the communities across all 105 counties in Kansas -- you understand the challenges and opportunities in your area. This partnership with The University of Kansas Health System will start with pilot projects in locations and health care areas that will be determined through collaboration with communities and with K-State Research and Extension offices.
I would encourage you to watch the news conference or read the news release about the partnership, if you haven’t done so. And a special thank you to two members of our K-State Research and Extension team -- Jessica Kootz, Midway Extension District director and family and consumer sciences extension agent, and Elaine Johannes, Kansas Health Foundation distinguished professor in community health and state extension specialist -- for participating in the news conference to help illustrate what this kind of partnership means for K-State Research and Extension.
This is just the beginning.