In an effort to improve rural health care, the
$22-million Federal Communications Commission grant to establish a statewide
broadband telehealth network, university officials announced last week.
The UC Office of the President and the UC Davis Health
System will jointly manage the project, which aims to create a
telecommunications system enabling rural communities to access a broad range of
services that seek to improve the quality of care.
The California Telehealth Network is expected to connect
more than 300 rural sites, a network of specialists at academic medical centers
and other providers in the state. The new network will also serve as a resource
for emergency services and disaster preparedness.