FCC funds three Ohio telehealth initiatives

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced yesterday that it's awarding $417 million for the construction of 69 state or regional rural broadband telehealth networks, including three projects in Ohio. (Source: FCC press release, PDF download, Nov. 19, 2007.) Under the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, the networks will use "advanced communications technology to tap the expertise of modern urban medical centers" and deliver health care services and information. The Ohio networks receiving FCC money are:

• Holzer Consolidated Health Systems in southeastern Ohio. This consortium of eight healthcare facilities will upgrade its existing network to a broadband fiber-optic network to facilitate better information-sharing, enable remote data storage, and provide a local information backbone for connection into the regional electronic data interchange. Maximum support: $1,836,000.
• Northeast Ohio Regional Health Information Organization will expand an existing network to connect approximately 19 medical facilities in 22 counties. Maximum support: $11,286,200.
• Southern Ohio Healthcare Network will provide approximately 60 facilities with next-generation telemedicine, education, and interconnection with statewide emergency networks and Internet2 by building or purchasing fiber optic rings covering 315 miles. Will also provide connectivity to facilities outside the reach of the fiber optic rings. Maximum support: $13,929,417. (Source: FCC Program Applications, PDF download.)