Med Center Health to invest over $1 million for distance learning, telemedicine in rural areas
BOWLNG GREEN, Ky. – Med Center Health has received a grant that can help to better connect communities in rural Kentucky to virtual health care.
According to a release by Med Center Health on Monday, the $992,780 grant will benefit patients throughout Clinton, Hart, Simpson, Allen and Warren counties in Kentucky through one hub site and four end-user sites.
Medical professionals within the Med Center Health System will deliver telemedicine consults with staff and patients that will reach over 18,446 individuals, health officials say.
The USDA awarded over $5.5 million in Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants to a total of eight recipients across the Commonwealth, according to the release.
These include the following:
- County Line Primary Care
- Red Bird Mission
- Bowling Green-Warren County Community Hospital (Med Center Health)
- Lewis County Primary Care Center
- Monroe County Board of Education
- Webster County Board of Education
- Henry County Board of Education
- Trimble County School District
Med Center Health says president and CEO Connie Smith and vice president of Rural Hospitals, Eric Hagan, gathered at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort to accept the award from Gov. Andy Beshear, along with USDA representatives Andy Berke and Dr. Thomas Carew.
“Med Center Health is committed to providing access to care close to home in our rural communities. We are grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with the USDA to offer our patients convenient and accessible care, furthering our mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve,” Smith said.
Beshear said the grant will allow families in rural Kentucky “to receive the health care and education they need.”
“We know that education is the foundation for how we prepare tomorrow’s workforce and that a better trained, more educated workforce is what will propel Kentucky forward,” Beshear said.
