WASHINGTON- Senator Chuck Grassley today said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development, has awarded funding $1,107,173 to Avera Health through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program. Avera Health is a network of hospitals and clinics serving Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotas.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Avera will use the money to increase access to telemedicine in rural parts of Iowa and the Dakotas. Some of the services available in the area through telemedicine are tele-health specialty consultations, tele-radiology, e-ICU, e-pharmacy and e-emergency care. A portion of the money will be used to fund training of medical staff in the tri-state area.
“Through telemedicine, Iowans in rural parts of the state can access specialists in their home-communities, instead of traveling to a big city for an appointment. Telemedicine saves patients in rural America time and money,” 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.
Each year, 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.