North Carolina

The Center for Rural Health Innovation (CRHI), CHF’s first innovation partner, has been a pioneer in school health since 2011. As an early adopter of telehealth technology, CRHI has championed the effective and efficient use of this modality. CRHI’s Health-e Schools program ensures that children in North Carolina who might otherwise encounter barriers to care such as a lack of transportation to medical appointments or a shortage of physicians, have access to medical and mental health services. The program allows school nurses to connect students with a centrally located healthcare provider using high definition video-conference technology specially equipped with stethoscopes and cameras. CRHI is a leader among high-quality school-based telehealth programs. They share knowledge and facilitate conversation about this innovative platform through speaking engagements, webinars, consulting contracts and collaborative efforts with like-minded programs across the country.

Serving Communities in Need: CRHI serves an area of high need. Western North Carolina has a persistent shortage of qualified health professionals as evidenced by the high number of Health Provider Shortage Areas and high rates of morbidity and mortality for preventable diseases. As a result, many children have gone without access to comprehensive primary and preventive healthcare, placing their long-term health and well- being at risk.

CRHI serves 63 schools in Western North Carolina and provides services to any student regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.