Promoting a Health Delta
The Delta Regional Authority is committed to improving health outcomes throughout the Delta Region. Our belief is that health is an economic engine and will drive future economic growth. Compared with national rates, deaths in the Delta region from circulatory diseases are 21.2% higher, deaths from cancer are 12.7% higher and deaths from accidents are 42% higher.
The immediate focus of the DRA’s work is devoted to implementation of the Health Advisory Committee’s “Growing a Healthy Workforce in the Delta” Action Plan. In launching the Healthy Delta Initiative, we seek to:
- Convene and coordinate governmental groups, rural health governmental agencies, and advocacy groups to better leverage existing programs, identify new resources, and streamline efforts to achieve efficiency and produce improved outcomes.
- Organize regional and sub-regional task force groups to hear directly from local communities, and facilitate the development of local, grassroots solutions tailored to local needs.
- Develop technical assistance programs and tool-kits that provide solutions, action plans, and benchmarks for local communities in need of resources and external support.
- Provide updated and accurate information online that allows communities to quickly access accurate county health data reporting to assist with grant applications and program implementation.
In an attempt to increase access to quality health care, the Delta Regional Authority has implemented the Delta Doctors program. The program allows foreign physicians who are trained in this country to work in medically underserved areas for three years. Those in the Delta Doctors program do not take jobs away from U.S.-born physicians. Instead, they provide critical medical services in areas with a physician shortage. To date, 140 physicians have served in the Delta region with the Delta Doctors program.
Become a Delta Doctor
Delta Medical Innovative Readiness Training
The Delta Regional Authority partnered with the Department of Defense for its Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program to bring free medical and dental care to the Delta region. The purpose of the IRT program is to improve military readiness while simultaneously providing quality services to communities throughout America. By utilizing their extensive resources, the military is able to meet some of the region’s most urgent civil needs, including expanding access to basic health care. DRA works closely with Delta communities and the Department of Defense to assist with the application process as well as planning and implementation. The Authority also serves on the advisory board for the IRT program, allowing for significant input into site selection and program development.
Five communities in the DRA region were selected for the 2011 IRT program. From June 8-19, 2011, general medical, dentistry, vision, and veterinary services were provided to almost 5,600 citizens of the Arkansas Delta in the communities of Helena, Wynne, Marianna, Eudora, and McGehee, Arkansas. This included handing out approximately 1,000 pairs of eyeglasses and the extraction of over 700 teeth.