Center for Excellence in Rural Health-Hazard

Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network

The UK Center for Excellence in Rural Health-Hazard (UK CERH-H) is a member of the Kentucky Appalachian Rural Rehabilitation Network (KARRN), an organization dedicated to those living with, treating and researching neurological conditions. Organized in 2008, KARRN’s aim is to improve health outcomes and quality of life for rural Appalachian residents with neurological conditions by researching, identifying, developing and disseminating information and strategies to maximize resources.

Most of Kentucky’s Appalachian counties are designated as medically underserved areas. This shortage of health professionals and health care resources is particularly burdensome to individuals with neurological conditions − like spinal cord injury, stroke and traumatic brain injury − who require a collaborative, interprofessional approach to achieve long-term improvement in health outcomes and quality of life.

This year, a networking grant from the National Institutes of Health has enabled KARRN to partner with the Kentucky Homeplace program to fund dedicated staff support for further development of the network throughout Kentucky’s Appalachian region. Established in 1994 and operating from the CERH-H, Kentucky Homeplace is a lay health worker program that is nationally recognized for improving rural residents’ access to care.

For more information about KARRN networking opportunities, contact:

Ralph Fugate, Southeast KY Regional Coordinator
Kentucky Homeplace Program
750 Morton Blvd
Hazard, KY 41701
606-439-3557 or 800-851-7512
Email: rfu222@uky.edu

Helen Collett, Southern KY Regional Coordinator
Kentucky Homeplace Program
22728 Hwy. 421
Suite 107
Hyden, KY 41749
606-672-2827 or 888-220-3783
Email: collett@email.uky.edu

Visit the KARRN website for more information.