LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas Hospital is teaming up with 14 small hospitals and medical centers in the western part of the state to makeover rural health care.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the effort is part of a three-year, $12.5 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center. The grant enabled the hospital to create the Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative.

The effort puts into place more prevention, consistent emergency protocols, telemedicine, follow-up care and teamwork. If the effort meets its goals of saving lives and reducing health care costs, it could become a model for heart and stroke care in rural areas.

Prevention efforts will roll out in September. They’ll include smoking cessation programs and high blood pressure and cholesterol treatments.