Western Illinois AHEC is providing a new avenue for the Arthritis Self-Help Program by usingvideo conferencing technology to reach small rural communities in Illinois.  Working with a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health Arthritis Initiative, the six week course is being offered to Critical Access Hospitals in rural Illinois. Over 100 people participated in the classes in 2006.

The Arthritis Self-Help Program classes originate at the Western Illinois AHEC office and are video conferenced to sites across Illinois. Attendees learn and think of new ways to self-manage their arthritis pain.