California launches nation's largest telehealth network

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra joined a diverse group of statewide healthcare and technology agencies August 17 at the UC Davis Cancer Center in Sacramento to launch the California Telehealth Network (CTN), which is set to be the largest in the nation.

"Our passion for broadband and healthcare is tangible and real and will have a big impact here in California," said Chopra during the announcement. The CTN network will provide both the traditional and advanced IT infrastructure that telemedicine needs for growth, he said. The network is the result of a $30 million joint funding effort between the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF), the California HealthCare Foundation, UnitedHealthcare, the National Coalition for Healthcare Integration, the University of California and other private and public entities.

"Here, we're talking about the digital highway, broadband, that is also part of the infrastructure," Gov Schwarzenegger said. "A lot of people are not aware of that, but there are a thousand people a year dying in California of just someone misreading a prescription or not having the total medical records and so on, so this is inexcusable." With the launch of the California Telehealth Network, he said, "We are changing that, and reducing errors, and saving money at the same time."

"I think telemedicine is going to be the future of medicine," Gov Schwarzenegger said, adding that telehealth is a facet of healthcare reform in that it helps provide good-quality, affordable care for everyone.