The $1 million grant will provide timely access to cognitive health services for people in underserved areas of the state, help caregivers navigate local resources, and support primary care providers in taking care of their patients.
The University of South Carolina’s Brain Health initiative has been awarded a $1 million grant by The Duke Endowment to continue the statewide expansion of its Brain Health Network in underserved areas of the state.
USC’s Brain Health Network is a statewide network of clinics developed to provide timely access to cognitive screenings, evaluations and community health support for individuals with cognitive concerns or deficits. Working with HopeHealth, Lexington Medical Center and Prisma Health primary care providers, the network currently operates clinics in Columbia, Darlington, Lexington, Seneca, Sumter and Winnsboro.
Leonardo Bonilha, USC School of Medicine Columbia Senior Associate Dean for Research and USC Brain Health Director, and Brad Cole, USC Brain Health Health Care Executive Director, are co-principal investigators on the project titled, “Expanding Brain Health Access and Support to Rural and Underserved SC Providers and Communities.”
USC Brain Health is revolutionizing the delivery of cognitive care by offering a new model of care at our clinics that provides underserved populations within our state specialized services and support.
The USC Brain Health Network offers a unique collaborative approach for its patients and their caregivers.
“In addition to collaborating with health systems, we collaborate with local primary care providers and provide vital access to advanced cognitive screening and evaluation that is coordinated with the patient’s care team. We provide support for patients and their caregivers to access critical resources in their communities,” says Cole.
Helping primary care providers
The USC Brain Health Network clinics also benefit primary care providers.
“Primary care providers in South Carolina need help meeting the rapidly increasing demand for diagnostics and support for people with cognitive concerns. By offering patients direct access to these services, we are alleviating some of that burden for primary care providers, which frees them up to spend more time with their patients,” Bonilha says.
The need for cognitive care services in South Carolina
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are increasing at an alarming rate throughout South Carolina.
South Carolina’s rapidly growing population of people aged 65 and older is expected to reach 1.4 million by 2030. Just as age is a factor in developing Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, so is stroke, for which South Carolina has the seventh highest death rate in the country, and heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the state.
These facts, coupled with the shortage of rural health care providers with expertise in cognitive care, confirm the growing cognitive care crisis that South Carolina is experiencing.
South Carolina is a neurology desert. Patients typically must wait six to nine months to be seen by a neurologist or other specialist.
“By offering our model of care in collaboration with health systems in communities around the state, we are reducing patient wait time down to four weeks,” says Cole.
Julius Fridriksson, USC Vice President for Research, says, “The Duke Endowment award ensures that the USC Brain Health Network will be able to expand into communities that we know need better access to brain health care. The award directly supports USC’s commitment to expanding cognitive care services and support for patients, caregivers and families statewide.”
The award directly supports USC’s commitment to expanding cognitive care services and support for patients, caregivers and families statewide.
Jennifer McCormack, USC Associate Vice President, Corporate and Foundation Relations, was altogether instrumental in USC Brain Health’s receipt of The Duke Endowment award. As the proposal’s strategy lead, she coordinated with senior leadership within both organizations to ensure USC’s vision of pioneering efforts to bring neurological services to critically underserved communities aligned with the Endowment’s Health Care mission.
The Brain Health Network’s highly innovative care model represents the kind of initiative needed to address the social and healthcare implications of South Carolina’s growing, aging population.
In serving as a bridge across USC academic and research units, and between the institution and funders, McCormack ensures USC is well-positioned to pursue philanthropic collaborations that have a positive and lasting impact on South Carolina communities.
USC Brain Health is a primarily state-funded program within the USC School of Medicine Columbia.
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits. Since its founding, it has distributed $5 billion in grants. The Endowment shares a name with Duke University and Duke Energy, but all are separate organizations.
For more information, contact Nicole Carrico at nicole.carrico@uscmed.sc.edu or 803-446-3952.