Center for Excellence in Rural Health

Kentucky Homeplace Program

About Homeplace - Residents of rural Kentucky have unusually high levels of certain diseases. These include cancer, heart disease, hypertension, asthma, and diabetes. Lifestyle choices, environmental factors, inadequate health insurance and general lack of understanding of the healthcare system are often cited as contributing to this condition. Kentucky Homeplace was created to help address these issues.

New Eyes for the Needy - New Eyes for the Needy, a non-profit, non-sectarian volunteer organization founded in 1932, strives to improve the vision of the less fortunate by purchasing new eyeglasses in the United States and recycling donated glasses for distribution. New Eyes no longer issues vouchers directly to individuals in Kentucky. Residents now must access this valuable service through Kentucky Homeplace.

Estill County Project - The Kentucky Homeplace program has hired a new family health care advisor to help link medically underserved Estill Countians with available health and social services. The new lay health worker is housed within the emergency department at Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital, located at 60 Mercy Court in Irvine. The project aims to help patients who visit the emergency room in non-life threatening situations with find a "medical home" – a consistent setting for primary care – and to obtain appropriate cancer screening or smoking cessation assistance.

Morgan County Rural Health Initiative Project - The University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), Kentucky Homeplace and other partners have implemented telehealth into the homes of approximately 40 patients who face mobility or communication issues. This innovative project is supported by a state grant.

For a complete staff listing, visit our contacts page.