MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The West Virginia University School of Nursing is partnering with FaithHealth Appalachia of Huntington to utilize a specialized subnetwork within the Henry Macomb Ford Foundation’s Faith Community Nursing Documentation System.
Through this partnership, faith community nurses in West Virginia will have access to an advanced, evidence-based documentation system designed to improve patient care coordination, track health outcomes, and strengthen the integration of faith-based nursing into broader public health initiatives.
Faith community nursing plays a critical role in bridging gaps in healthcare by providing holistic, community-centered support that addresses physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
“This partnership allows us to enhance the effectiveness of faith community nursing by ensuring that faith community nurses have a robust documentation system tailored to the unique needs of communities,” said Dr. Angel Smothers, Associate Dean for Community Engagement at the WVU School of Nursing.
The Henry Macomb Ford Foundation’s documentation system provides a secure and standardized platform for faith community nurses nationwide. By building a subnetwork specifically for West Virginia faith community nurses, the system will incorporate regional health concerns, best practices for rural care delivery, and specialized reporting features.
“This collaboration ensures that faith community nurses in West Virginia are not only supported in their daily practice but also positioned to demonstrate the measurable impact of their work,” said Rory Chapman, Executive Director for FaithHealth Appalachia. “It’s a step forward in integrating faith-based care into larger healthcare systems while maintaining the personalized, compassionate approach that defines faith community nursing,”
Cyndi Saxton, faith community nurse and Director of Faith Community Nursing at FaithHealth Appalachia, added, “As this project continues to grow, the collaboration will serve as a model for how faith-based health initiatives can integrate innovative documentation tools to enhance patient outcomes and community well-being.”
For more information about the WVU School of Nursing’s faith community nursing initiatives or the partnership with FaithHealth Appalachia, please contact Dr. Angel Smothers at asmothers@hsc.wvu.edu.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Holdren
Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU School of Nursing
304-581-1772; Wendy.Holdren@hsc.wvu.edu