Pilot Program in Emergency Departments Supports Rural Missouri Families
A new initiative at the University of Missouri School of Medicine is addressing the challenges faced by rural families who rely on emergency departments for healthcare. The project, known as Tigers ConnectED, was evaluated in a recent study that highlights innovative strategies to identify and assist families with essential needs beyond immediate medical care.
Emergency departments (EDs) serve as a vital resource for individuals in rural regions, where access to primary healthcare services is often limited. The Tigers ConnectED pilot program was developed to bridge the gap for families, particularly those with children requiring pediatric care. The program aims to address social determinants of health--such as food security and access to community resources--by connecting families to support services during and after their ED visits.
During an eight-week assessment, researchers surveyed 95 families seeking care at the pediatric emergency department. The findings revealed that nearly half of these families experienced at least one unmet essential need, with food insecurity emerging as the most prevalent concern. After their visits, families were contacted and provided with information about local support options. The majority of those who requested assistance were successfully reached, primarily through digital communication channels such as text messaging, allowing for remote support and resource allocation.
The study also showed that approximately 40% of participating families resided in rural counties surrounding the medical center. While these rural families were less likely to request assistance compared to their urban counterparts, they faced similar challenges related to access to services and basic necessities. Transportation barriers and limited availability of specialized healthcare were identified as significant obstacles for rural parents seeking ongoing medical support for their children.
The Tigers ConnectED initiative builds on the foundation of the Tigers Connect program, which originated in pediatric clinics in 2021. Both programs reflect an institutional commitment to understanding and addressing the broad range of factors influencing health and well-being among families in Missouri. By proactively identifying at-risk families and facilitating connections to community resources, the pilot aims to improve outcomes for children and support the stability of their households.
Researchers emphasize that emergency departments, due to their accessibility and frequent use by families lacking other healthcare options, are uniquely positioned to serve as points of intervention for social and health-related challenges. The program's remote outreach model enables healthcare professionals to extend support beyond the walls of the hospital, removing barriers such as travel and time constraints that often prevent families from accessing necessary services.
Further details of the pilot program and its impact have been published in the journal Family & Community Health, providing evidence for the effectiveness of integrating social determinants of health screening into emergency care. The research demonstrates that coordinated, technology-driven outreach can play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable families, particularly those in rural communities where healthcare resources are scarce.
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like Tigers ConnectED offer a model for linking medical care with essential social support services. By leveraging the unique position of emergency departments and harnessing digital communication, the program represents a step forward in addressing the complex needs of rural families and improving health equity across Missouri.