School-based telehealth to connect Appalachian children with specialists for hearing and preventive care
Appalachian STAR Trial
This program brings specialist telehealth visits into Appalachian elementary schools to find and treat hearing and other preventable health problems in children ages 0–11.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11189628 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child goes to a participating Appalachian school, the program offers school-based health screenings and telehealth appointments with specialists so problems can be identified and treated sooner. Hearing screening is the first service, with direct telemedicine referrals when concerns are found and coordinated follow-up to reduce loss-to-care. The model adapts a program that worked in rural Alaska and will be implemented across rural Kentucky schools to address social and system barriers. School staff, health systems, and policy supports are used together to make care easier for families in underserved areas.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children aged 0–11 who attend participating Appalachian or rural Kentucky schools, especially those from underserved or low-income families, are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Children who do not attend participating schools, are older than 11, or whose families do not provide consent are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could speed diagnosis and treatment of hearing and other preventable conditions, reduce missed follow-up, and expand specialist access for rural children.
How similar studies have performed: A similar STAR telemedicine referral approach has shown effectiveness in a rural Alaska setting, but this is the first time it will be applied in Appalachian school-based preventive care.
Where this research is happening
Little Rock, United States
- Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis — Little Rock, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Emmett, Susan Davis — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Emmett, Susan Davis
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.