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Press release, Sept. 2, 2011
Medical Care Development
11 Parkwood Drive, Augusta, ME 04330
Medical Care Development, Inc., a Maine non-profit, has received notice of a grant award from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth of the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a telehealth resource center for New England and rural New York. Telehealth delivers health care at a distance, using technologies such as interactive videoconferencing and electronic transmissions of medical images and data. The award is $325,000 a year for three years starting in September 2011.
The project will establish the NorthEast Telehealth Resource Center (NETRC) to promote telehealth in the six New England states and New York. The Center will be housed at MCD in Augusta, in partnership with the Fletcher Allen Health Care Telemedicine Program at University of Vermont College of Medicine (UVM). Telehealth is a good way to get care to people who can't travel to it. With new techniques for monitoring and communicating, it can sustain access in rural communities struggling with aging population and shortages of specialty health care providers.
NETRC will offer technical assistance and educational activities such as regional conferences and smaller scale events. It will help the states in the region set up statewide telehealth user forums modeled on Maine's existing Telehealth Collaborative.
"This award is a result of the excellent work the Maine Telehealth Collaborative has done over the past years to develop a Telehealth network both in Maine and throughout New England. The ME CDC as convener of the Maine Telehealth Collaborative will continue to support the NorthEast Telehealth Resource Center and the Maine Telehealth Collaborative as they continue to expand access to the highest quality health care using 21st century technology" says Dr Sheila Pinette, Director, Maine CDC.
Telehealth is more economically and technically feasible than ever before, thanks to payment changes in health reform and better access to high speed broadband infrastructure in rural areas. The project will coordinate with broadband providers. "This is a fantastic opportunity for the state of Maine," said Susan Corbett, CEO of Axiom Technologies, an Internet Service Provider based in Washington County. "Sustainable broadband adoption and the implementation of telehealth services that will be spearheaded by the NorthEast Telehealth Resource Center will move Maine forward."
In addition to staff at MCD and UVM, NETRC will use consultants from the Maine Telemedicine Services (MTS) division of the Regional Medical Center at Lubec. The state offices of rural health will be key partners, engaging and coordinating stakeholders interested in telehealth solutions in each state. For a gateway to existing Telehealth Resource Centers around the county, visit the following site: www.telehealthresourcecenter.org
Medical Care Development's mission is to improve the health and well-being of people both nationally and internationally. MCD does this: - In partnership with communities, organizations, and governments. - By developing and operating creative, compassionate, and practical programs. - By providing technical advice and assistance to enhance the capacity of others. Founded in 1966, MCD has a long and successful history of developing and demonstrating improved health through the creative application of best practices in a range of areas, including chronic disease self management, clinical office systems and practice improvement, and communication. MCD was one of the original rural health development organizations and conducted one of the first blood pressure screening programs. MCD helped create the early rural health centers in Maine and helped found the Maine Dartmouth Family Practice Residency.
© 2011 Northeast Telehealth Resource Center in association with Medical Care Development.