Auburn gives update on OnMed Station, Rural Health Initative

Published 9:30 am Wednesday, January 29, 2025

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The OnMed Care Station in the Chambers County Community Health and Wellness Center is still the nation’s most active location for healthcare services with 1,314 consultations throughout 2024. 

Both the Chambers County Commission and LaFayette City Council heard a presentation of the annual report on the Auburn University Rural Health Initiative. 

Dr. Hollie Cost, Assistant Vice President for University Outreach and Public Service, and Chambers County Extension Office Coordinator Rachel Snoddy hopped from one meeting to the other to share data on the year’s progress on Monday night.

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The Auburn University Rural Health Initiative aims to improve health outcomes, increase accessibility and offer education and empowerment in rural communities across the state, starting with Chambers County. 

According to the report, the initiative has directly impacted the well-being of over 1,300 participants during the 187 health education programs, screenings, and community events that were hosted last year. 

In that time, the center has received a 98 percent satisfaction rate for meeting health needs and a 93 percent likelihood for return customers. 

Residents also reported gaining access to information and care that “they would not have received otherwise,” which speaks to the initiative’s goal of meeting the health needs in the community. 

In addition, 97 percent of users reportedly felt confident using the care station and 100 percent said that the care station was private and easily accessible. 

LaFayette, where the center is located, has only two practicing healthcare physicians at the moment. According to Cost, they don’t have the capacity to care for all of the residents of the area without help.

In addition to the high-tech OnMed telehealth station, the center also hosts community health events and screenings to help spread information and close the healthcare disparity in rural, disenfranchised communities. 

Since opening, the center has had over 236 Auburn student engagements geared towards informing residents about public health information while gaining vital hands-on experience. 

There have been 52 community volunteers at the center as well. 

Not only does the center support primary care clinics with students, but speech and hearing services have been a staple of the center since its opening. In 2024, there were 45 primary care patients, 75 hearing services patients and 53 speech services. 

Over the last year, the center has launched several community projects including the period pantry. The pantry provides menstrual hygiene products to community members at no cost, all sourced by local donors, Auburn University’s Flo Organization and Alabama Department of Public Health.

The Community Garden at the CCCHWC produces fresh vegetables for the community. The center is also a donation site for the Society of Saint Andrew. 

A student-led program at the center is the Health Ambassadors. The network of community members support the health and wellness of neighboring residents by “raising awareness, promoting resources, identifying needs and connecting residents to essential services.”

In the last month of the year, the center hosted the Tree of Giving, a holiday program that provided much-needed items to 31 families and individuals in need. The Tree of Giving is organized in partnership with the LaFayette Rotary Club.

Looking ahead, Cost said the center will continue to expand the initiative, specifically renovating the remainder of the building. The remaining wings will be used for housing the Chambers County Cooperative Extension Office as well as additional health and wellness services. 

The center will also be expanding to mental health services, with the help of Commissioner Debra Riley, by installing telehealth carts to provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment through the Auburn University Psychological Services.