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Weekly Roundup | Wrapping up and launching was the name of the game

This week’s roundup wrapped up a few things, launched a few things, and included a showcase of Whitley County. 

Let’s recap.

Healthcare Action Plan released

Not much compares to the collapse of coal and its effects on Eastern Kentucky’s way of life.

But another threat is facing our communities — one with the potential to create a new wave of devastation.

Eastern Kentucky’s hospital systems are unable to meet critical hiring needs. 

And if this doesn’t change soon, it will have lasting impacts on economic, population, and health outcomes across the region. 

We released the Eastern Kentucky Healthcare Action Plan this week. It outlines the solutions we can start working towards right now to stabilize our hospital systems. 

The plan dives into:

  • What’s at stake for Eastern Kentucky’s hospitals?
  • How would the current trajectory impact our community’s future quality of life?
  • How can we prepare more Eastern Kentucky residents for healthcare careers?
  • What solutions are available today? 

If we come together to implement solutions, we’ll have a fighting chance to stabilize our hospital systems — and improve regional economic outcomes. 

BRIGHT Leadership announces new class

Leadership Kentucky announced members of the BRIGHT Kentucky Class of 2022 on July 11th. Our own, Sabrina McWhorter, Manager of Business and Innovation, was one of 43 participants representing 22 of our 54 counties. The program kicked off on July 13th in Ashland.

Learn more about BRIGHT Kentucky here. 

Whitley County featured on Fox56’s Out and About

People from across the Commonwealth got a taste of all Whitley County has to offer as DeAnn Stephens featured it on her popular Out and About segment. Her trip also included a ride on Backroads of Appalachia’s Copperhead Trail. 

Connect EKY broadband survey 

With the funding from a $60,000 grant from Connect Humanity, we are building a Broadband Master Plan for Eastern Kentucky. While the project starts in Boyd County, our goal is to expand planning to communities across the region. 

How can you help?

We’ve created a community broadband survey and a new website Connect EKY. By providing your input on the survey, you’ll help us identify gaps and opportunities related to broadband access throughout the region. 

Check out our recent blog post to learn more.

First-ever Appalachian Nursing Academy is a wrap

There is currently a shortage of healthcare workers not only in Eastern Kentucky but nationally. We recognized this and have been working to combat the shortage by bringing the attention of high school students to the healthcare field through several projects.

That led to the creation of the first-ever Appalachian Nursing Academy (ANA). 17 high school juniors and seniors completed the two-week program.  Learn more about the Academy here.

We also hosted the first-ever Healthcare Career Pathway Fair at the Appalachian Wireless Arena earlier this year. More than 700 high school students were able to learn about exciting careers from our region’s hospitals while being connected to local and regional colleges and universities that provide training close to home. Our second Healthcare Career Pathway Fair will be hosted in Corbin at the Corbin Arena on September 9th. For more information on the upcoming fair, contact Kenny Ortiz, CDC Public Health Associate, at kenny@soar-ky.org. 

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