WVU Eye Institute receives $2M to expand care across West Virginia
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MORGANTOWN - The WVU Eye Institute has been awarded more than $2 million through Governor Patrick Morrisey's West Virginia Rural Health Transformation Program to establish a statewide teleophthalmology network, expanding access to specialized eye care, and helping detect chronic diseases earlier in rural communities.
The $2,000,026 award, provided through the program's Connected Care Grid initiative, will bring advanced eye screening technology to local healthcare facilities, establish regional testing centers, and train healthcare workers to serve communities where specialized eye care is limited or unavailable.
"For too many West Virginians, getting specialized eye care means traveling hours from home or going without the care they need," Thomas Mauger, M.D., executive chair of the WVU Eye Institute, said. "This investment will allow us to bring advanced screening technology and the expertise of the WVU Eye Institute directly into rural communities, helping patients catch problems earlier and protect their vision while receiving care closer to home.”
The project will expand specialized eye screenings to doctors' offices and local health centers throughout West Virginia, including 14 counties that currently lack a local eye doctor. Four regional testing centers will be equipped with advanced diagnostic technology, allowing patients to receive specialized monitoring without traveling long distances.
The initiative will also recruit and train eight certified technicians from rural communities, creating local healthcare jobs while building the workforce needed to sustain these services. Patients whose screenings identify potential health concerns will be connected with population health navigators, who can assist with diabetes management, nutrition, and transportation needs.
"Where you live shouldn’t determine the quality of healthcare you receive," Governor Morrisey said. "These investments will help doctors catch serious health problems earlier, give local healthcare providers better tools to care for their patients, and reduce the need for families to travel long distances for treatment. That's how we improve health outcomes, strengthen our healthcare system, and help more West Virginians get healthy and return to the workforce."
The teleophthalmology network will help healthcare providers identify conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure earlier, when treatment and management can help prevent complications, including vision loss.
The award is part of West Virginia's broader Rural Health Transformation Program, which is investing in expanded healthcare access, preventive services, and workforce development to improve health outcomes and help more West Virginians remain healthy and active in the workforce.