Marshall Health Network awarded Rural Health Transformation Program Grant for workforce health initiative

CHESAPEAKE, W.Va. – Marshall Health Network’s (MHN) proposed Worksite Clinic Expansion Initiative was among the first grants awarded yesterday through the State of West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program.

A $612,000, one-year grant awarded to the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation will support Marshall Health Network in launching an innovative workforce health model to improve health outcomes, reduce barriers to employment and strengthen workforce participation across West Virginia.

Traditional occupational medicine plays an important role in workplace safety, regulatory compliance and return-to-work services. MHN’s new workforce health model builds on that foundation by addressing the broader health factors that can affect an individual’s ability to enter, remain in or return to the workforce. The comprehensive, scalable model brings together occupational medicine, primary care, chronic disease management, injury prevention, care coordination and employee wellness in a unified approach to workforce health.

MHN has operated one of the state’s leading occupational health programs for more than 35 years and has made significant investments in workforce health infrastructure, including expanded occupational health facilities, mobile healthcare services and coordinated specialty care resources.

“We want to express our gratitude to Governor Patrick Morrisey for his commitment to improving the health and prosperity of West Virginia and for investing in innovative solutions that support a healthy, productive workforce,” said Beth L. Hammers, chief engagement officer for Marshall Health Network. “By focusing on prevention and early intervention, this initiative addresses the root causes of workforce disruption while advancing the state’s Health to Prosperity goals.”

The initiative is expected to deliver measurable improvements in both employee health and workforce performance, including earlier identification and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); reductions in avoidable emergency department visits and hospitalizations; and faster, safer returns to work following illness or injury.

The program will launch with Nucor Corporation as its foundational implementation partner and expand to additional employers throughout the first year. Through a combination of embedded worksite clinics, mobile health services and occupational health hubs, employees will have access to preventive screenings, primary care, occupational health evaluations, injury prevention programs, chronic disease management, behavioral health coordination, nutrition counseling and intensive care navigation services.

“This initiative represents a new approach to workforce health in West Virginia,” Hammers said. “By bringing coordinated, preventive care directly to employees where they work, we can improve health outcomes, help businesses maintain a strong workforce and support economic growth throughout the state.”

This press release is supported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of the financial assistance award totaling $199,476,098.72 with 100% funded by CMS HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

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