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Trump Administration Invests $72 Million in Distance Learning and Telemedicine Infrastructure in 40 States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Name
Heather Stacy
Email
heather.stacy@usda.gov
City
Phoenix
Release Date

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Investments will Benefit More Than 12 Million Rural Residents
 

PHOENIX, Oct. 7, 2020 – USDA Rural Development Arizona State Director Jack Smith today announced that USDA is investing in three projects in Ariz. to help rural residents connect to professional health and education resources.

“The prosperity of America’s rural cities and towns is influenced by the health and education of America’s rural citizens,” Smith said. “The three distance learning and telemedicine investments announced today make it easier for rural residents to access health care and educational opportunities without having to travel long distances.”

USDA is funding these projects through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program. The program helps health care and education institutions buy the equipment and software necessary to deploy distance-learning and telemedicine services to rural residents.

  • Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center (CVRMC) is receiving a $744,452 grant to develop a telemedicine network through its medical centers covering the rural communities of Globe, Kearny, Superior, Young and Tonto Basin, in addition to its main campus. Telemedicine capability would be added to emergency medical services (EMS) within the Gila and Pinal counties to better serve the healthcare needs of the more than 44,500 residents. The proposed telemedicine network will enable CVRMC to maximize scarce health care resources available in this rural service region to deliver high quality stroke care, chronic care management, preventive care services, opioid and other drug treatment, and health education.

  • Cochise Technology District will use a $155,407 grant to assist with funding the Mental and Social Health Distance Learning Project for rural Cochise County and eastern Santa Cruz County Schools. The project will provide students with the technology to access college-level mental and social health courses.

  • Benson Hospital will use a $377,494 grant to launch a new telemedicine project in Cochise, Graham, and Greenlee counties. Interactive TeleHealth stations will be deployed at 11 sites to remotely provide tele-medicine services to rural residents within the service area.  

To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, interested parties should contact their USDA Rural Development state office. USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

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