Putnam County Memorial Hospital among sites to receive remote care through University of Missouri health project.
The Missouri Telehealth Network will create or expand 30 additional sites across the state to provide medical care to rural patients who might otherwise not receive treatment. A new federal grant will support the network's efforts to create 11 new sites and expand services at 19 existing sites by this summer.
The Missouri Telehealth Network uses telecommunications technology to connect highly specialized physicians with rural patients. The expansion is funded by a $220,459 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Services Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program, as well as contributions from the University of Missouri, Health Literacy Missouri and telehealth sites receiving new and updated technology.
“Thousands of patients in rural areas will have better access to specialty care providers without leaving their communities,” said Rachel Mutrux, director of the Missouri Telehealth Network. “This expansion of telehealth services delivers health care to patients who might otherwise go untreated.”
Reviewed 2013-02-18