Increasing Access to Health Care in Rural America Through Broadband Telehealth

INCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN RURAL AMERICA THROUGH BROADBAND TELEHEALTH
[SOURCE: Federal Communications Commission]
To significantly increase access to acute, primary and preventive health care in rural America, the Federal Communications Commission on Monday dedicated over $417 million for the construction of 69 statewide or regional broadband telehealth networks in 42 states and three U.S. territories under the Rural Health Care Pilot Program (RHCPP). The Commission's RHCPP will support the connection of more than 6,000 public and non-profit health care providers nationwide to broadband telehealth networks. The health care facilities participating in the Pilot Program include: hospitals, clinics, universities and research centers, behavioral health sites, correctional facility clinics, and community health centers. The networks will deliver services efficiently, reduce costs and travel time for consumers, decrease medical errors, and enable health care providers to share critical information. Rapid and coordinated responses to public health emergencies, such as bioterrorism attacks, pandemics or disease-related outbreaks, will be expedited through coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health officials during public health emergencies.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-278260A1.doc

* Rural Health Groups to Get Millions From FCC
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/19/AR2007111901328.html