Michigan Center for Rural Health to Develop Roscommon County Senior Telehealth Hub to Improve Access to Care for Older Adults
East Lansing, MI – The Michigan Center for Rural Health (MCRH) is excited to announce the development of the Roscommon County Senior Telehealth Hub, a new initiative currently in the planning and development phase focused on improving access to care, enhancing care coordination, and addressing barriers faced by older adults in rural communities.
Supported by funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund Healthy Aging Grant, this effort will support the creation and implementation of a community-centered telehealth hub model that will be located at the Roscommon County Commission on Aging in Prudenville, Michigan.
Once established, the Roscommon County Senior Telehealth Hub will serve as a central access point where older adults can connect with healthcare providers and services in a supportive, community-based setting. The hub will offer private telehealth spaces, technology support, and connections to primary care, specialty care, and community-based services, helping reduce barriers to transportation, digital literacy, and access to care.
“This project is incredibly important for our rural communities, where access to care, including specialty care, can require long travel times,” said John Barnas, Executive Director at MCRH. “By creating a local supportive space for telehealth, we minimize those barriers and increase support to adults who are aging in place.”
“As RCCOA Director Debra Looney stated, ‘If we can bring care to them—right here, close to home—and help them feel comfortable using it, it will change lives.’”
MCRH is proud to partner with the Roscommon County Commission on Aging, along with local healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and regional stakeholders, to design a model that is responsive, sustainable, and rooted in the community.
As part of this initiative, MCRH will convene local partners to help inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of the hub, ensuring the model reflects community needs and priorities.
Lessons learned from this initiative will support the development of a scalable telehealth hub model that can be adapted and implemented in other rural communities facing similar challenges.
For more information about the Roscommon County Senior Telehealth Hub initiative, please contact: Laura Stoddard, Social Drivers of Health Manager at laura.mispelon@affiliate.msu.edu.