WESTMINSTER, Colo. — The mountains have plenty to offer, but they don't have everything. Lindsay Rice knows this firsthand.
"It was all new to me, being diagnosed with a disease such as [multiple sclerosis]," Rice said. "I live in a small town of Salida, Colorado, and there is care there, good care, but it's nothing like what is available in Denver and other large cities."
Rice was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2021. While she was unsure of how to navigate living with the new disease. Luckily, in that same year, the Rocky Mountain MS Center established its rural engagement program that has community forums and educational opportunities.
"In the beginning, I didn't know anything and I didn't know where to turn," Rice said. "I feel like as soon as I connected with the Rocky Mountain MS Center, it put me at ease."
This comfort in connection is exactly why the center created the program.
"We wanted to meet that need right where people are at in their communities," said Kerri Cechovic, senior programming director.
Cechovic said the program brings MS specialists to five counties in Colorado: Mesa, Chaffee, Pueblo, Otero and La Plata. This May, the program expanded into Laramie County in Wyoming.
"Folks face many challenges, transportation barriers and access to care and support, so when we’re coming into their spaces and offering these direct services in addition to the education we’re providing, folks are so grateful to have that connection," Cechovic said.
Cechovic said the care is holistic, not only just allowing people to connect with experts, but also people who have MS too. She said education forums are a large part of programming.
"When you’re living with a chronic disease like MS, you have a range of complex needs and challenges so that means beyond medical care. You need mental health support, you need social connection support [and] a range of physical activity opportunities to make sure you’re maximizing your health," Cechovic said.
She said the program lets patients focus on what's important.
"The last thing you want to do is have to face logistical challenges, in terms of having to navigate to your MS specialist appointments, going to your medical appointment, taking a day off work, finding childcare, accessing the healthy food you need [and] physical opportunities you need," Cechovic said.
Rice still has to go to cities like Denver to access certain treatment care, but she said knowing there's a community of people with MS in Salida makes living with MS easier.
"It's just a nice way to round out the community and the support for people with MS and the caregivers of people with MS," Rice said.
The Rocky Mountain MS Center said programs like these that touch rural communities will push forward the initiative of a health equity in Colorado.