Healthcare in Appalachia

Site Description:

The “Healthcare in Appalachia” site draws on the expertise of healthcare professionals and administrators working in the Saint Joseph Healthcare System and the Appalachian Regional Healthcare System in eastern Kentucky. Students participating in this experience will follow doctors, nurses, and administrators through the daily challenges of serving the largely rural residents of Perry County, KY, where the 2007 poverty rate was 31.4%. Opportunities will vary, but should include observation of cardiac surgery; home visits with patients battling such challenges as a lack of running water and sanitation; and in-depth discussions with a variety of healthcare professionals about insurance, patient care, and healthcare reform as it relates to the people of Appalachia in most need of assistance. This site is relatively new, starting in Fall 2009, and requires applicants to send a one-page essay describing their interest and relevant experience for selection to Deborah Blasko at dblasko@nd.edu, in addition to completing the CSC application. Students interested in healthcare from all disciplines are welcome to apply.

Site Resources:

Students should review relevant sites at:

Appalachia Regional Healthcare www.arh.org/Hazard/AHI/AHI.php

Appalachia Regional Healthcare www.arh.org/harlan/default.php

St. Joseph Healthcare System www.sjhlex.org/

Appalachian Regional Healthcare System www.apprhs.org/index.php

Site Contact:

We discourage students from directly contacting the site; all reservations are made through the Center for Social Concerns.  Further emergency contact information will be provided to students upon enrollment in the seminar.

Lodging:

To be determined. 

Travel:

Students may do significant travel to reach patients and professionals around the region. Arrival and departure times are variable; students will travel to Healthcare in Appalachia on Sunday, March 7, and will return the following Saturday, March 13.

Personal Expenses:

Students must pay for their own meals while they travel from Notre Dame to the site on Sunday and back to Notre Dame from the site on Friday or Saturday.  Students are requested to bring enough money to pay for these 2–3 meals, and it is also suggested that students bring extra spending money for personal purchases during their immersion.  The availability of ATMs varies with each site, and so in the interest of avoiding fees or running out of money, it is suggested that students have a reasonable amount of cash on hand before the immersion.

Meals:

Meals will be supplied by host families or purchased during travel under the direction of the site supervisor.