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Collaborative Rural Healthcare Delivery Through Innovative Readiness Training and Operation Health and Wellness: An
Elizabeth Loika1, Jacqueline Hamilton2, Joshua Anderson1
1Nursing Practice Department, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, USA.
Journal of Primary Care & Community Health
|August 14, 2026
Summary
Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) evolved into a community-led Operation Health and Wellness (OHW) initiative, enhancing rural healthcare delivery. Despite lower patient volume, deeper clinical engagement and persistent pharmacy integration were observed.
Area of Science:
- Rural Health
- Healthcare Delivery Models
- Interprofessional Education
Background:
- Rural communities face significant healthcare access barriers, including workforce shortages and limited services.
- The Department of Defense's Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program addresses these issues by providing healthcare services and military medical training.
- In Nueces County, Texas, IRT transitioned into a community-led initiative named Operation Health and Wellness (OHW).
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the evolution and impact of the IRT/OHW initiative in Nueces County, Texas.
- To evaluate the sustainability and effectiveness of an interprofessional rural healthcare delivery model.
- To examine the role of interprofessional teams in enhancing rural primary care access and pharmacy integration.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive observational analysis of program data from 2021-2025.
- Data sources included patient registration, clinical services, pharmacy dispensing records, and site activity reports.
- Outcomes measured were patient volume, service intensity per patient, and pharmacy utilization.
Main Results:
- Over 6,000 patients received care between 2021 and 2025.
- Patient volume decreased after the transition from military-supported IRT to community-led OHW.
- Services per patient significantly increased, indicating enhanced clinical engagement, and pharmacy integration remained strong.
Conclusions:
- The IRT/OHW initiative established a sustainable, interprofessional model for rural healthcare delivery.
- This model effectively integrates pharmacists, nurse practitioners, military clinicians, and academic partners.
- The initiative provides a scalable framework for improving rural primary care access and experiential training.
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