Washington – U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S. Representatives Marion Berry (AR-01), Vic Snyder (AR-02), John Boozman (AR-03), and Mike Ross (AR-04) announced that Arkansas will receive $1,780,905 for distance learning and telemedicine projects across the state. The funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Grant Program.
“Increased access to current technology is critically important to Arkansas, providing opportunities to dramatically improve the quality of life for our citizens. Greater access can help physicians offer better medical advice, expand Arkansans’ educational opportunities, and help rural businesses grow. I’m pleased to see our state receive these funds, and I remain committed to fighting for economic growth and job creation in our rural communities,” said Lincoln.
“Every Arkansan should have access to quality medical care and education, regardless of where he or she lives. By updating rural health systems and increasing access to higher education, these funds will help small towns attract new investment, create jobs, and improve their quality of living,” Pryor said.
“Often individuals who live in rural areas are forced to travel long distances for the care they need because there are not enough medical providers or resources,” said Berry. “This funding will give doctors greater access to telemedicine resources, help train additional medical professionals, and greatly improve the care patients will receive.”
“The ability to access information easily and communicate it instantly is essential to expanding education and health care outreach,” said Snyder. “The improved access to technology will help these institutions provide better services to more people.”
“Access to quality and affordable health care is limited, particularly in our rural communities. Telemedicine is already proving to help rural Arkansans who would not otherwise be able to receive health care they need. Using technology in this capacity is a commonsense solution to accommodating Arkansans and all Americans who don’t have resources readily available to them to improve their health care and decrease costs,” Boozman said.
“Advances in medical technology and procedures improve our quality of care, open educational opportunities and save lives,” said Ross. “I am pleased to help announce these funds because they are critical to helping those of us in rural areas benefit from the best medical and educational technology available. Our rural hospitals and medical centers are struggling during these tough economic times and I will continue advocating on their behalf.”
Funds will be allocated throughout Arkansas as follows:
$ 87,294 for Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
Rural Development funds will be used to upgrade existing interactive video classrooms and create an online learning laboratory, allowing more students to gain college level courses without having to relocate. The expanded distance learning facilities will carry a special component of nursing and emergency medical technician training to address the shortage of critical health professionals in rural Southwestern Arkansas.
$295,357 for Baptist Health facilities in Chicot, Van Buren, Phillips, Bradley, Pulaski, Independence, and Mississippi Counties
Rural Development funds will be used to fund a critical care medical network connecting six rural medical centers and a major hospital hub site at Little Rock. The network will use patient monitoring equipment linked to clinical workstations.
$500,000 for the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts
Rural Development funds will be used for an expansion of an existing videoconferencing distance learning system to 20 K-12 school sites in Arkansas and Texas, with an emphasis on deaf education and other special needs. Along with the deaf education component, services will include enhanced course offerings, adult learning and outreach/counseling to parents.
$309,752 for Baptist Health facilities in Arkansas, Clay, Randolph, Johnson, and Desha Counties
Rural Development funds will be used for a critical care medical network connecting six rural medical centers and a major hospital hub site at Little Rock. The network will use patient monitoring equipment linked to clinical workstations.
$467,287 for Sparks Regional Medical Center
Rural Development funds will be used for the purchase of clinical workstations, video conferencing and desktop equipment that will link 10 county hospitals across Arkansas/Oklahoma to improve and expand access to care for medically underserved chronic disease patients.
$121,215 for Crossett Health Foundation (ACMC Family Home Health)
Rural Development funds will be used to purchase telemonitoring home units for home health patients and accompanying laptops for clinical staff. This equipment will allow providers to monitor more patients with greater efficiency, and provide better care for the rural patients within the 5-county area they serve.
