WASHINGTON- Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development has awarded grants totaling $737,151 to Iowa hospitals through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program.
“This money will help purchase technology to increase efficiency at rural hospitals while improving care for patients,” Grassley said.
According to the Department of Agriculture, the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program helps encourage, improve and make affordable the use of telecommunications, computer networks and related technology for rural communities to improve access to education and medical services.
The grant funds from the Office of Rural Development will be distributed as shown below.
• Clarke County Public Hospital in Osceola will receive $356,243 to help purchase video conferencing and related devices that will connect the county hospital to local sites, such as the senior center, a public health center, three schools and the public library. This project will also connect these sites to specialty physicians in Des Moines for virtual office visits, emergency room support, health-related education and health care training.
• Mercy Foundation of Des Moines will receive $380,908 to help purchase digital monitoring equipment for the intensive care program linking seven rural hospitals with the central hospital in Des Moines.
Each year, thousands of local Iowa organizations, colleges and universities, individuals and state agencies apply for competitive grants and loans from the federal government. The funding is then awarded based on each local organization or individual’s ability to meet criteria set by the federal entity.