MADISON, Wis., July 13 -- The Wisconsin Public Service Commission issued the following news release:
Governor Jim Doyle announced today that several non-profit health organizations around the state will receive grants totaling $1.0 million from Wisconsin's Universal Service Fund (USF) Telemedicine program.
'These funds will help deliver vital medical services to communities throughout Wisconsin,' Governor Doyle said. 'The advancements and improvements these grants provide are a great benefit to health care in this state.'
The Telemedicine Program is part of the Universal Service Fund created under Wisconsin law. The program awards grants annually to non-profit medical clinics and hospitals and public health agencies. The grants help clinics and hospitals purchase telecommunications equipment to promote advanced medical services and enhance access to medical care in underserved areas. This year, 37 organizations requested approximately $3.8 million from the fund for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years with 27 being selected as grant recipients and grant awards totaling $1.0 million.
The telecommunications technology grant helps fund improvements in medical care through greater communication between patients and healthcare staff and communication between medical experts throughout the state. Since the program began in 2001, the Telemedicine Grant Program has awarded over $4.9 million to Wisconsin non-profit healthcare providers.
The following non-profit organizations received Wisconsin USF grants:
* Access Community Healthcare Centers, in Madison, received $36,000 to fund video conferencing for up to three of its clinic locations.
* Aspirus Wausau Hospital, in Wausau, received $51,222 to fund telemedicine carts to link critical access hospitals in Langlade and Medford with specialty services.
* Black River Memorial Hospital, in Black River Falls, received $31,500 to purchase home monitoring units to improve patient care and address health care professional shortages.
* Calumet County Dept. of Human Services, in Chilton, received $25,990 to provide videoconferencing for telepsychiatry to connect the Chilton and Appleton offices.
* Community Health Systems, in Beloit, received $37,873 to purchase four videoconferencing workstations to expand telepsychiatry, AODA treatment, and diabetes screening and monitoring to the Beloit, Darlington, Fennimore and Racine Clinics.
* Community Memorial Hospital, in Oconto Falls, received $33,000 to purchase computed radiography for one of its satellite clinics in Lena or Oconto to increase access to radiologists.
* FPHS, Inc./WIRHN Inc., in Wausau, received $28,200 for videoconferencing equipment for 25 sites in the state for doctor and nurse practitioner consults for primary, reproductive and mental health.
* Forest County Potawatomi Community, in Crandon, received $49,484 to purchase telemedicine exam equipment to be used by nurses or physicians in patient homes or at the Carter or Stone Lake Wellness Centers.
* Gunderson Lutheran Clinic, in La Crosse, received $31,789 to purchase telemedicine exam equipment to connect Independence Clinic with Gunderson Hospital in La Crosse.
* Home Health United, in Madison, received $48,858 to purchase an integrated wound management system to improve care for in-home patients.
* Langlade Hospital, in Antigo, received $43,767 to purchase computed radiography for a satellite clinic in either Elcho or Birnamwood to increase access to radiologists.
* Luther Midelfort Chippewa Valley, in Bloomer, received $39,456 to purchase a video exam system for the critical access hospital in Chippewa Valley to connect with Luther Hospital in Eau Claire to have access to specialty consults.
* Marshfield Clinic Telehealth received $59,279 to purchase telemedicine exam equipment for seven hospitals in north central Wisconsin to implement the Telestroke program.
* Memorial Hospital of Lafayette Co., in Darlington, received $105,000 to purchase telemedicine equipment for critical access hospitals in Darlington, Boscobel and Tomah.
* Milwaukee Health Services received $10,308 to purchase a videoconferencing site to be able to continue to expand its services at its two health centers.
* Moundview Memorial Hospital, in Friendship, received $11,554 to purchase electrocardiogram, radiology monitor and video conferencing for improved cardiac diagnosis, transmittal of data and improved educational opportunities.
* Northern Health Centers, in Lakewood, received $50,317 to purchase computed radiology equipment to improve access to radiologists.
Rest of the document can be viewed at (http://psc.wi.gov/pdffiles%5CNews%20Releases%5C2010%5C07%20July%5CGovernor%20Jim%20Doyle%20Announces%20$1.0%20Million%20in%20Telecommunications%20Grants%20to%20Non-profit%20Health%20Organizations%20.pdf)For more information please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.
Teresa Weidemann-Smith, 608/266-9600.
