First showing of 'Remaking Rural Health' is tonight on KET; focuses on people who are making a difference

The spotlight often shines on rural Kentuckians' alarming health problems, but far less attention goes to the people in those communities who are making a difference. "Remaking Rural Health: A KET Special Report" focuses on the advocates who are making inroads in improving conditions in these areas. The first airing of the report is at 9 p.m. Eastern Time tonight.

The report focuses on the expanded use of nurse practitioners, specifically those at Alliance Coal LLC, where a team of practitioners, overseen by Dr. Raymond Wells, run on-site clinics at seven mine sites in the state. It also looks at people like Dr. Phillip Bale of Glasgow who are focused on prevention. Bale runs one of the only "prevention clinics" in the state, spending nearly 30 minutes with each of his patients to identify risks for conditions like heart disease.

With boots on the ground, the goal of the University of Kentucky Rural Cancer Prevention project is to promote prevention by increasing testing and screening for four major cancers, educating through the use of Facebook and text messaging, and having advocates go to places like Walmart to reach out to people.

Awareness is another focus of these advocates. In Montgomery County, the Hispanic population prompted the health department to start the Promotora Program, in which leaders of the Hispanic community are trained in health issues in order to share their knowledge with members of the community. And the Hazard-Perry County Community Foundation aims to build health values in the community to try to change health outcomes.

The report will air again at 10 p.m. EST Monday, Feb. 13, and will be available online. For more information, click here.