USDA grant to support telemedicine for The Medical Center at Russellville
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The USDA announced a telemedicine grant for The Medical Center at Russellville.
This grant will impact and provide patients with more medical access, the staff with more bedside support and it even reaches the community.
Eric Hagan, vice president of Rural Hospitals, says, “It we give us a platform to provide interpreter services. So regardless of what language somebody speaks, we’ll be able to pull in an interpreter and to include sign language of the deaf. So it’s more, I guess, connectivity with, different services that we already use. But it will make it a lot more easier for the patient.”
Travis Burton, the USDA Rural Kentucky State director, said, “That’s going to make, more tools for their physicians to be able to interact with patients for the way they care for their patients and track their patients health. They’re also going to be looking at ways to work with local schools that they’re already partnering with one school.
With this new addition, the Med Center be able to use innovative ways to improve the quality of life for its patients and surrounding counties.
Travis tells us, “ We have to make sure our rural communities are supported and that, our families in rural communities have the same access to the essentials that anybody would anywhere and that includes health care. “
With technology advancing in more ways than one many hospitals across the country are tapping into any new resource that may help.
Eric also shares, “Today’s world, people are used to things coming to them. And, you know, whether it’s stuff you order on amazon or even having your groceries delivered. People are using technology. You know, I think there’s not as much boundaries as far as, you know, age or anything that, you know, limits people’s use of technology. And I think health care is becoming more along those lines where ease of access and convenience is really the driving factor as far as how people make decisions about to care. You know, we don’t want anybody to feel limited, especially if they have a need.”
Telemedicine should began in the summer 2026. News 40 will continue to follow this story.
