[TAO] Fwd: FW: USDA Announces Investments to Expand Distance Learning and Telemedicine Opportunities in the Columbia Gorge Region of Eastern Oregon and Washington

Wed Feb 12 08:53:35 PST 2014

Thanks, Chris for forwarding this information...

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tamarin Christopher <christopher.tamarin at biz.state.or.us>
Date: Wed, Feb 12, 2014 at 8:31 AM
Subject: FW: USDA Announces Investments to Expand Distance Learning and
Telemedicine Opportunities in the Columbia Gorge Region of Eastern Oregon
and Washington
To: Catherine Britain <csbritain at gmail.com>

 Cathy, FYI...

*From:* Rees, Jill - RD, Portland, OR [mailto:jill.rees at or.usda.gov]
*Sent:* Tuesday, February 11, 2014 4:08 PM
*Subject:* USDA Announces Investments to Expand Distance Learning and
Telemedicine Opportunities in the Columbia Gorge Region of Eastern Oregon
and Washington

[image: News Release Header]
Contact:                   Jill Rees, (503) 414-3302
jill.rees at or.usda.gov                     USDA ANNOUNCES INVESTMENTS TO
EXPAND DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE OPPORTUNITIES IN RURAL AREAS *Funding
will improve rural medical care in the Columbia Gorge region of Eastern
Oregon and Washington*

 *PORTLAND, Feb. 11, 2014* - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently
announced that the Obama Administration is investing in rural
telecommunications equipment to help expand access to education, create
jobs, and improve health care in 25 states. The announcement includes a
project to enhance access to medical specialists via telemedicine in 19
rural clinics in the Columbia Gorge region of Eastern Oregon and
Washington.

"These small, rural clinics will now be able to provide a much more
comprehensive array of health care services and consultation with
specialists located in larger medical centers," said USDA Rural Development
State Director Vicki Walker. "This USDA investment in innovation will help
rural clinics overcome several challenges with providing comprehensive and
coordinated medical services in small, isolated communities while helping
rural residents access the specialized care they need."

A USDA Rural Development grant of $329,269 will be used to purchase
telemedical equipment for a consortium of 12 health care organizations,
sponsored by Kadlec Regional Medical Center (KRMC), that have banded
together to serve 19 video endpoint sites at rural clinics in the
geographic area along the Columbia River in Eastern Oregon and Washington
State. Medical carts equipped with camera, video monitor, and medical exam
devices will be purchased for the video endpoint sites and specialized
servers that bridge, schedule and otherwise manage the total operation from
a central location will be purchased for the hub (KRMC in Richland). Clinic
sites include Boardman, Hermiston, Enterprise, Heppner and Irrigon in
Oregon and Dayton, Waitsburg, Othello, Prosser, Benton City, Goldendale,
Connell and Wahluke in Washington.

This announcement of nearly $16 million in USDA grants for distance
learning and telemedicine services also helps to support President Obama's
ConnectED initiative. In June 2013, President Obama announced an effort to
connect 99 percent of America's students to high-speed Internet over the
next five years. Since 2009 USDA has provided support for more than 3,300
educational institutions receiving distance learning services to help rural
children get an education that is as good as that of their peers in cities.

These investments are being provided through USDA's Distance Learning and
Telemedicine Loan and Grant program<http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/UTP_DLT.html>.
It provides funding to rural hospitals, clinics, schools and libraries for
equipment and technical assistance for telemedicine and distance learning.
Grant recipients must demonstrate that they serve rural America, prove
there is an economic need, and provide at least 15 percent in matching
funds.

Since 2009, USDA has invested almost $150 million in the Distance Learning
and Telemedicine program. These investments complement other USDA efforts
to improve rural communications. In FY 2013, USDA provided $305 million in
loans for broadband infrastructure. These loans will result in new or
upgraded broadband service for about 120,000 rural households, businesses
and community institutions once the projects are completed. High-speed
broadband access is as vital to the educational and economic fortunes of
rural America as electricity was in the 1930s and 1940s.

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic
investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the
President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities,
businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue
leading the way - strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural
communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way
of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.

#

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      ------------------------------

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-- 
Catherine S. Britain, Program Director
Telehealth Alliance of Oregon
csbritain at gmail.com
541-910-7366
www.ortelehealth.org
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