The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a $1.3 million grant to fund three telecommunications projects in Nevada. This will provide improved technology systems to support distance education and telemedicine within the state.
Sites at elementary, middle and high schools, community colleges, Cooperative Extension Service Centers, and Nevada Youth Training Centers will have access to improved technology and advanced educational curricula, and 21 additional health care sites will be able to provide acute and preventive health care services.
“These telecommunications systems help connect rural people in remote communities to experts and resources across the country,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Sarah Adler. “High school students will be able to access advanced courses through distance learning; the telehealth system expansion will provide rural access to health care services that are currently not available. A tremendous amount of collaboration among Renown Health, the Nevada System of Higher Education, University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, health providers, USDA and other providers went into these applications for a very competitive program; it is terrific to get these results.”
Renown TeleHealth received $436,936 to provide acute and ambulatory health care through a high-definition telehealth network. Rural hospitals, clinics and correctional institutions in eight Nevada and three California counties will be able to connect patients, families and caregivers with emergency and elective health care services.
Additionally, The USDA granted the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) $493,351 to provide videoconferencing equipment in 13 Nevada counties, replacing outdated equipment and software for video, audio and interactive collaboration.
The USDA has also approved a $454,676 grant for the Elko County School District to connect schools and communities with advanced distance learning technology. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program helps rural communities acquire technologies to connect educators and medical providers with other experts that would be too far to access otherwise.
