FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2017

For More Information
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

GLENVILLE, WV- The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission has awarded a grant to the West Virginia Rural Health Association (WVRHA) that will provide a one year subscription to the Association’s WV Health Data Portal, training, and printed tutorials to Glenville State College and nine other higher education institutions.

GSC students attending a West Virginia Rural Health Association presentation

According to information from the WVRHA, higher education plays an important role in addressing the monumental issues facing West Virginia’s population including the opioid crisis, diabetes, and access to quality health care. Recent state budget cuts and the absence of easily accessible and current data hamper the ability of the higher education system to respond. Extending access to the WV Health Data Portal will be a new tool that higher education institutions utilize to make advancements in tackling these critical issues. The use of current, more easily accessible data will undoubtedly equal better health results for the populations of the state.

"Having access to this sophisticated health information portal is an invaluable asset as GSC moves forward with program planning to meet the needs of north central West Virginia," said GSC Associate Professor of Health and Nursing Dr. Alison Witte.

To view the WV Health Data Portal, go to www.wvrha.org, select resources and then the WV Health Data Portal. Over 300 data sets are available for use. This portal is a stand-alone autonomous repository for health workforce data and provides a link between policy and practice. The portal provides data and maps to inform West Virginia rural health stakeholders, citizens, policy and decision-makers where and how their health care demands are affecting the state.

Trend analysis and supply and demand data for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, social workers, specialists, and many more health professions are available and visually show the areas of maldistribution of the health workforce down to the zip code level. The portal is updated annually and describes health care shortages in rural areas and serves as an economic development and decision-making tool for all West Virginia stakeholders.

For more information about the portal and how GSC plans to utilize it, contact Dr. Alison Witte at Alison.Witte@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6212.