By Andi Anderson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's State Director, Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, revealed that the USDA has granted three Distance Learning and Telehealth (DLT) Medicine Awards to medical facilities in Illinois. These awards aim to equip these facilities with secure medical hub/service sites, facilitating remote medical appointments for patients.
Londrigan highlighted that the USDA's support aligns with President Biden's directive to aid rural hospitals and medical facilities. The DLT investments empower patients to receive care from their homes, ensuring safety, security, and convenience. This approach is particularly beneficial for immunocompromised individuals, young mothers without childcare, and elderly individuals facing transportation limitations.
The recipients of these awards in Illinois include:
- Tri-County Special Education Association: Awarded $388,000 to provide general medical, dental, and mental health services across 36 locations spanning McLean, Logan, Tazewell, DeWitt, Piatt, and Woodford counties. This initiative stands to benefit over 11,000 individuals.
- Southern Illinois Hospital Services: Granted $768,000 to establish telemedicine and secure hub sites, enabling remote medical appointments for more than 16,000 individuals in Jackson and Saline County.
- St John's Hospital of the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis: Received a $908,000 investment to procure telemedicine equipment for eight end-user sites in Bond, Christian, Clinton, Madison, Montgomery, and Shelby counties. This initiative aims to provide mental health services, pain medication management, education, prevention, treatment, and recovery care for Opioid Substance Use Disorder across seven locations, benefiting over 440,000 individuals.
These investments are pivotal in enhancing the health and well-being of rural communities by leveraging technology to broaden access to medical care and services.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Illinois, Government & Policy