06/08/2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mountain Laurel Integrated Healthcare Receives National Recognition for Rural Health Innovation, Quality Outcomes, and Integrated Pharmacy Care
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mountain Laurel Integrated Healthcare Receives National Recognition for Rural Health Innovation, Quality Outcomes, and Integrated Pharmacy Care
ATLANTA, GA – Mountain Laurel Integrated Healthcare (MLIH), a dually designated Community Behavioral Health Center and Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike serving southern West Virginia, is celebrating multiple national recognitions and federal investments highlighting the organization’s leadership in rural healthcare innovation, integrated pharmacy services, outreach, and quality improvement.
During a national conference for Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grantees held in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 13–14, MLIH was selected as one of ten grantees nationwide to present outcomes from its grant project in the inaugural Community Sparks Program, an initiative highlighting innovative approaches to healthcare quality improvement and patient outcomes.
The conference brought together grantees representing approximately 20 states, providing MLIH the opportunity to showcase how integrated pharmacy services have transformed patient care delivery in rural southern West Virginia.
MLIH earned first-place recognition in the Community Sparks program highlight, hosted by the project officers and coordinators of the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP). The highlight featured several grant-funded initiatives that demonstrated positive outcomes from pharmacy integration efforts made possible by federal investment and local innovation.
The presentation stressed the role of MLIH’s integrated pharmacy model, including the implementation of Dispill medication packaging, comprehensive medication management, and the integration of pharmacist Patrick Duty as an active member of the patient treatment team alongside providers, behavioral health staff, and care coordinators.
“Rural healthcare often requires creative solutions because our patients face barriers that extend far beyond the walls of a clinic,” said Donna J. Cooke, CEO at MLIH. “Medication adherence, transportation, chronic disease management, behavioral health needs, and substance use treatment all intersect. Our integrated pharmacy model allows us to meet those needs in a coordinated way.”
Through the pharmacy integration initiative, MLIH implemented medication synchronization services, blister packaging using Dispill systems, proactive refill management, medication delivery, and pharmacist-led interventions designed to improve adherence and reduce barriers to treatment. The outcomes have been substantial.
Among patients enrolled in MLIH’s Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program who participated in pharmacy-supported interventions, the organization documented a 100% reduction in psychiatric rehospitalizations, decreasing from nine rehospitalizations during the first quarter of 2024 to zero during the same period in 2025.
The integrated pharmacy approach has also strengthened provider collaboration by embedding pharmacist expertise directly into treatment planning and care coordination workflows.
“Our pharmacist has become part of the treatment team,” Travis Tomblin, Informatics Officer, stated. “Our providers, counselors, pharmacy staff, and care coordinators are working together in ways that would have been difficult under traditional pharmacy models. Patients are seeing the benefit of that collaboration.”
MLIH’s work has been supported through multiple federal initiatives, including the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant, and the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program, both of which have helped and will continue to expand access and improve quality throughout southern West Virginia.
MLIH also recently received national recognition through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Community Health Quality Recognition Program, earning the Heart Health Quality Recognition Award for excellence in cardiovascular quality measures and chronic disease management.
The recognition is especially meaningful in a region facing significant health disparities, high chronic disease burden, transportation barriers, and elevated rates of behavioral health and substance use disorders.
MLIH currently serves approximately 3,000 patients annually and provides more than 27,000 healthcare encounters each year across primary care, behavioral health, dentistry, pharmacy, crisis services, and integrated support programs.
The organization also provided more than 6,900 transportation trips last year to help patients access healthcare services.
As rural healthcare systems continue to navigate workforce shortages, chronic disease challenges, and access barriers, MLIH remains focused on building sustainable models of integrated care.
“These recognitions validate what our staff sees every day,” said Tomblin. “Integrated care works. Pharmacy integration works. When providers, pharmacists, behavioral health teams, and patients work together, outcomes improve.”
About Mountain Laurel Integrated Healthcare: MLIH is an integrated healthcare organization serving southern West Virginia through comprehensive primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, pharmacy, dental services, Assertive Community Treatment, ID/DD services, transportation, and community outreach programs. MLIH serves residents across Logan, Mingo, Lincoln, Wyoming, and surrounding counties through a whole-person, integrated care model. MLIH has clinic locations in Logan and Chattaroy, WV. Their website is www.mlih.org.
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Photo: Pictured, left to right: Kristin Martinsen, HRSA Senior Advisor; Travis Tomblin, MLIH Informatics Officer; Patrick Duty, PharmD for MLIH; and Dr. Eric Baumgartner, MD, Georgia Health Policy Center.
