New Telehealth Project Targets California's Agricultural Communities

A California-based initiative known for bringing telehealth to underserved communities is launching a new program to improve access to care for rural agricultural workers and their families.

The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society & the Banatao Institute (CITRIS) at the University of California has unveiled a public-private program called Accountability, Coordination and Telehealth in the Valley to Achieve Transformation and Equity (ACTIVATE). The pilot project aims to use connected health to improve access to care and care outcomes for rural residents in Merced County who have been hit hard by both COVID-19 and a weak economy.

"The patients we're serving with ACTIVATE are some of the most vulnerable members of society, and not only to COVID-19," project co-leader Katherine Kim, associated professor at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and the School of Medicine at the University of California, Davis, said in a press release. "Many are low-income, undocumented, Latinx agricultural workers – these communities have the least access to quality health care services."

This is the second telehealth project launched by CITRIS in less than a month. Last month, the organization launched the Lighthouse for Older Adults initiative, which aims to equip seniors in affordable housing communities with connected health tools and education.

Coordinated by CITRIS and UC-Davis, ACTIVATE takes aim at underserved residents in California’s Central Valley, listed in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s 2020 County Health Rankings as one of the least healthy regions in the state.

The program will provide telehealth and remote patient monitoring services at Livingston Community Health in Merced County, then expand to other community health centers, clinics and practices. Along with the technology, residents will receive health education and digital literacy training.

"The patients we serve are too often left out by traditional health system models," Livingston Community Health CEO Leslie Abasta-Cummings said in the press release. "They live in rural areas and face financial, cultural and legal barriers when it comes to accessing health care services. Working with these communities to embed and encourage the use of telehealth technology will empower patients to manage their own health and experience greater health outcomes."

Along with providing telehealth technology and education to residents, the program also aims to help local primary care providers embrace connected health programs to improve care management, especially for those with chronic conditions.

According to officials, the program will be evaluated for a number of goals, including technology implementation, outreach, adoption and utilization; successful use of community health workers to reach patients; and improved health behavior and health care outcomes. They’ll then work with the Center for Connected Health Policy to develop a roadmap that can be used by other healthcare providers.

“Telehealth represents a safe and effective way for many populations, including rural and low-income communities, to access necessary health care services – especially during a pandemic," David Lubarsky, Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences and CEO of UC Davis Health, said in the press release. "Through the ACTIVATE project, we will offer resources and expertise to identify the best ways to deliver telehealth services to providers serving the most vulnerable populations. Ultimately, we plan to provide a roadmap for both public and private partners, setting a gold standard in California and across the nation."