This Science and Technology Note identifies and compares non-emergent healthcare transportation strategies used in and around West Virginia and defines models to expand availability.

West Virginians in rural areas face limited healthcare access due to significant travel times and a general shortage of medical providers and staff. Telehealth has been suggested as a beneficial alternative to in-person care. This Science and Technology Policy Note addresses the state of telehealth in West Virginia and policy options for improving healthcare access.

With significantly higher rates of numerous chronic health conditions, access to healthcare providers is a critical concern for many West Virginians. Yet, the state faces a shortage of healthcare providers, including doctors and nurses. Further, given West Virginia’s aging population (PDF), the demand for healthcare providers is likely to increase. This Science and Technology Note details the state of the healthcare provider shortage in West Virginia and offers policy options to increase the availability of healthcare providers in the state.

This Science and Technology Note discusses the role of transportation in medical care coordination (MCC) for chronic conditions in West Virginia and identifies policy options to expand access to MCC in the state.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been used to make coatings that resist heat, oil, stains, and water since the 1940s. PFAS take hundreds of years to break down in the environment and can build up in the bodies of animals and humans, leading to concerns about potential health impacts. This Science and Technology Note discusses the known health risks of PFAS exposure, recent PFAS regulations in West Virginia, and policy options to address potential PFAS exposure in West Virginians. 

In the context of incarceration, mental hygiene most frequently refers to the involuntary commitment of incarcerated individuals to mental health facilities for treatment, but may also refer to general mental healthcare accessibility.

Food handler training and permitting are employed by many states to ensure that individuals preparing food commercially are educated in food safety. Foodborne illnesses, commonly known as “food poisoning,” come from a number of sources and can result in severe dehydration, making them especially dangerous for pregnant individuals, children, and the elderly.

HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS, is spread via contact with infected bodily fluids. As such, people who inject drugs (PWID) can contract HIV through contaminated syringes. Syringe service programs (SSPs) dispose of used needles and distribute sterile syringes with the goal of reducing disease spread amongst PWID. This Science and Technology Note discusses HIV and SSPs in West Virginia and offers policy options to limit HIV outbreaks by expanding West Virginians’ access to SSPs.

Tick-borne diseases, particularly Lyme disease, have been a problem of increasing magnitude in West Virginia over the past decade. This Science and Technology Note discusses the presence of the disease in West Virginia and potential actions that could be taken to lessen its impact.