Kentucky Health News The Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Appalachian Regional Healthcare have launched a new program aimed at improving health care access, outcomes and overall wellness for rural farmers in Central and Eastern Kentucky. Ag Commissioner Jonathan Shell and Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) President and CEO Hollie Harris, both center, joined ARH, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association officials to announce the launch the Farmer Care Initiative aimed at improving healthcare access, outcomes, and overall wellness for rural farmers. The partnership was formalized with a proclamation signing during a Farmer Care Initiative event at Barbourville ARH Hospital on Nov. 18. (Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo) Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell and ARH President and CEO Hollie Harris formalized the partnership of the Farmer Care Initiative at a Nov. 18 event at Barbourville ARH Hospital. This marks the first health care partnership with KDA’s subagency Raising Hope, a coalition that works to enhance the quality of life for farmers and farm families. “I am proud to welcome the agricultural community to the ARH family through this new partnership with KDA and Raising Hope,” Harris said in a press release. “By increasing rural access to high-quality care with preventive screenings, mental health services and health education, we are truly living our mission to improve health and promote the well-being of all people in partnership with our communities. We look forward to helping farmers and farm families progress on their health journeys across the Commonwealth.” The Farmer Care Initiative will provide health services tailored to the specific health care needs of the farming community. The services will be provided directly to rural areas through a network of mobile care events and programming aligned with health observance months. Additionally, ARH will provide mental health care supports as well as medical support from ARH physician Dr. Christopher Yost, who has an internal medicine clinic in Lexington. Shell lauded the partnership, calling the initiative a “vital step in ensuring farmers get the quality health care, mental health resources and support they deserve.” “This initiative reflects our commitment to the well-being of our agricultural communities, and I’m excited to see the positive impact it will have on Kentucky farmers and their families,” he said. According to the release, the Farmer Care Initiative grew out of the Food is Medicine campaign between KDA and the Kentucky Hospital Association as ARH welcomed the opportunity to care for the farmers who fuel the food system in the region while also advancing opportunities for those working in the agricultural economies of Kentucky. The post Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Appalachian Regional Healthcare launch Farmer Care Initiative to boost rural health support for Kentucky farmers appeared first on The Lexington Times.