HHS AWARDS $3.7 MILLION TO IMPROVE RURAL TELEHEALTH OUTREACH

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced 15 grants totaling $3.74 million to support telehealth projects that help improve access to health care services in rural and remote areas.

The grants will support existing telehealth networks, including projects that will help develop community-based clinical telemedicine efforts, establish distance-learning opportunities for health professionals, and support patient education programs on managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis and congestive heart failure.

"Successful telehealth projects can extend high-quality health care to rural Americans who otherwise would live too far away from the major medical centers," Secretary Thompson said. "We are committed to exploring and implementing new technologies and strategies to strengthen health care delivery as part of our broader strategy for improving rural health care."

The grant program is funded by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration through its Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, which coordinates HRSA's telehealth activities and promotes the wider use of advanced video and computer technologies to deliver health care and training to people in remote locations.

"Telehealth programs help us achieve our mission of improving access to quality health care for all Americans -- especially those who face geographic barriers that prevent them from getting the care they need," HRSA Administrator Elizabeth M. Duke said.

A list of grantees follows.

FY 2003 Telehealth Network Program Grants

Organization City State Amount

University of Arkansas for Medical Little Rock Ark. $245,454 Sciences, AHEC

University of Texas Health Science San Antonio Texas $250,000 Ctr. at San Antonio

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Note

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Last Revised: September 12, 2003