Appalachian College
of Pharmacy

A Model for Pharmacy-Based Virtual Clinics to Improve Access to Care in Rural Southwest Virginia

The Project

The Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP) is establishing two virtual telehealth access points within grocery store pharmacies to improve chronic disease management for patients with diabetes. This project aims to enhance access to care by utilizing conveniently located virtual clinics, where medical providers, pharmacists, and pharmacy staff work together to coordinate diabetes treatment and management. These telehealth clinics will be housed in the Food City Pharmacies in Vansant and Big Stone Gap, leveraging technology to provide remote chronic care services.

Work to be Conducted:

Launch two virtual telehealth clinics at Food City Pharmacies in Vansant and Big Stone Gap, enhancing access to chronic disease care.
Expand telehealth capabilities by upgrading equipment, marketing services, and increasing patient engagement.
Improve diabetes management by enrolling 200 patients annually in a remote chronic care program and serving 300 telehealth patients.
Offer essential screening and treatment for COVID-19, Flu A/B, and Group A Strep at telehealth access points.

Goals to be Achieved:

Report on patient health outcomes, highlighting the impact of telehealth interventions.
Analysis of clinical services provided, detailing the number and types of patients supported.
Assess program success, including goals set and achieved.
Track patient referrals for follow-up care and additional medical services.

Healthy Appalachia Institute Next Steps:

As this program unfolds, we aim to better understand how integrating telehealth services into pharmacy settings may improve access to care by enhancing diabetes management and control among participating patients, while also addressing acute health concerns through screening and treatment services.

We invite you to revisit this page as this project

is updated and as the evaluation

of the project continues

Evidence from Across Appalachia

Telehealth for Diabetes Management in Rural Appalachia

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association evaluated a telehealth program designed to support individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in rural Appalachia. The program utilized virtual specialty clinics to provide diabetes care, resulting in improved glycemic outcomes for participants.

Increasing Access to Diabetic Self-Management Education Using Telehealth

Research conducted in Appalachian Kentucky explored the use of telehealth to deliver diabetes self-management education (DSME). The study found that telehealth interventions effectively increased access to DSME, addressing the shortage of healthcare providers in the region and improving diabetes care.

Project Updates

February 2025 – April 2025

Telehealth Expansion – The second clinic, located in Big Stone Gap, became operational early in the second quarter. Services at both clinics have established two virtual telehealth access points from which local residents can access health services, including for diabetes testing, treatment and management.

Infrastructure & Agreements – This project advanced its telehealth infrastructure through payments for operating costs at the Vansant clinic and the purchase of diabetes management tools, including Bionime Rightest blood glucose meters, strips, and lancets. While agreements with some partners experienced minor delays, strong support from organizations enabled continued progress. Additionally, one clinic relocation, from Buchanan County to Wise County, was identified and addressed.

Workforce Development – To strengthen service delivery, more pharmacists from Food City were recruited and trained in diabetes management and remote physiologic monitoring (RPM). This expansion enhances the clinics’ capacity to provide chronic care and remote monitoring services.

Patient Engagement – Outreach efforts included the production and distribution of 10 posters and 500 brochures in participating Food City stores to raise awareness of the telehealth services. These marketing strategies aim to increase clinic utilization and community engagement with the new services.

Data Collection – The project began collecting baseline data to monitor patient utilization and outcomes. Telehealth systems are tracking visits, patient conditions, and treatment outcomes as services expand. These efforts will inform ongoing service refinement and evaluation of clinical effectiveness.

Key Benchmarks:

Telehealth Utilization – 49 out of 300 patients reached toward telehealth benchmark.
Diabetes Remote Care – 75 out of 200 patients enrolled in chronic care services.
Test & Treat Services – 14 out of 150 patients screened and diagnosed/treated for COVID 19, Flu A/B, or Group A Strep.

November 2024 – January 2025

Telehealth Expansion – Launched two telehealth clinics at Food City Pharmacies in Vansant and Big Stone Gap, improving access to chronic disease care.

Infrastructure & Agreements – Placed telehealth units inside the clinics and finalized agreements with key service providers for telehealth, diabetes management, and Test and Treat services.

Workforce Development – Hired and trained personnel to support telehealth operations.

Patient Engagement – Began identifying and recruiting patients with diabetes for telehealth services.

Data Collection – Initiated pre-data collection (baseline metrics) for diabetic patients.

Key Benchmarks:

Telehealth Utilization – 30 out of 300 patients reached toward telehealth benchmark.
Diabetes Remote Care – 40 out of 200 patients enrolled in chronic care services.
Test & Treat Services – 6 out of 150 patients screened and diagnosed/treated for COVID 19, Flu A/B, or Group A Strep.