Agency investments to expand telemedicine and distance learning opportunities in rural Wisconsin impact nearly 60,000 residents since 2021
WAUTOMA, Wisc., Oct. 17, 2024 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Lillian Salerno, alongside Wisconsin State Director Julie Lassa, today visited Waushara County Emergency Medical Services (Waushara County EMS) to highlight the impact of a more than $227,400 investment to expand telemedicine and distance learning opportunities on the approximately 25,000 rural residents served.
“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA’s commitment to assisting rural communities with infrastructure improvements, including opportunities for distance learning and telemedicine, has continued to grow,” Acting Deputy Under Secretary Salerno said. “The last few years alone have shown us that the need is growing imminent, especially in remote areas with greater physical and geographic barriers. Investments through Rural Development telecommunications programs help to address some of these challenges and work to bridge the ‘digital divide’ in rural areas by expanding access to important health care and educational services like telemedicine and distance learning.”
Waushara County EMS believes that “every second counts in providing life-saving care” and have long been a vital component to the diverse healthcare needs of the local community. As Waushara County and surrounding communities grow, so to does the need for expanded and updated medical services.
Thanks to the assistance of a $227,400 grant through USDA Rural Development’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant (DLT) program, Waushara County EMS was able to connect seven fixed rural station locations through video conferencing technology and enabling real-time, live, interactive training and education initiatives via distance learning. Additionally, funding helped to outfit seven ambulance and truck vehicles with mobile hotspots and telehealth video conferencing systems for emergency medical services in the field. This technology will enable these vehicles to respond to connect live with healthcare providers while responding to incident calls, improving efficiency and life-saving support services for patients.
During their visit, Salerno and Lassa toured the main Waushara County EMS facility and one of the EMS vehicles and watched a demonstration of the new technology at work.
Background: Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants
USDA Rural Development’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant (DLT) program. This program helps fund distance learning and telemedicine services in rural areas to increase access to education, training and health care resources that are otherwise limited or unavailable.
Since the beginning of 2021, Rural Development has invested more than $256 million in rural modern telehealth and distance learning opportunities, including nearly $1.3 million right here in Wisconsin. These Wisconsin investments alone have impacted nearly 60,000 rural neighbors.
Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, Tribal and high-poverty areas.
For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/wi or contact the nearest USDA Rural Development office. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates in Wisconsin, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
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