Amplifying Expertise in Rural West Virginia through Project ECHO: Impactful Partnerships and Community-Engagement.

Background: Limited specialty care access is a major contributor to rural health disparities. Extensions for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) is an innovative training and education strategy to address the need for trained specialty care in rural areas, such as West Virginia (WV). This article describes the successful implementation of ECHO projects in diverse subject areas facilitated by unique partnerships between the WV Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI) and its practice partners.

Improving the Care of Dual Eligible Patients in Rural Federally Qualified Health Centers: The Impact of Care Coordinators and Clinical Pharmacists.

Background: Dual eligible persons are those covered by both Medicare and Medicaid. There were 9.6 million dual eligible persons in the United States and 82 000 in West Virginia in 2010.