Med Center Health receives grant to invest over $1 Million for distance learning and telemedicine in rural areas

Med Center Health received a $992,780 grant to equip one hub site and four end-user sites throughout Clinton, Hart, Simpson, Allen and Warren Counties in Kentucky with two-way audio-visual technology using digital smartboards. Medical professionals within the Med Center Health System will deliver telemedicine consults with staff and patients benefiting over 18,446 individuals.

The USDA awarded more than $5.5 million in Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants to a total of eight recipients across the Commonwealth. These funds will help deliver virtual health care services to more than 27,700 Kentuckians and distance learning connections to more than 12,200 students and educators in rural areas.

The Kentucky awardees include:

  • County Line Primary Care
  • Red Bird Mission
  • Bowling Green-Warren County Community Hospital (Med Center Health)
  • Lewis County Primary Care Center
  • Monroe County Board of Education
  • Webster County Board of Education
  • Henry County Board of Education
  • Trimble County School District

Med Center Health president and CEO Connie Smith and Vice President of Rural Hospitals, Eric Hagan were in attendance at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort to accept the award from Governor Andy Beshear and USDA representatives Andy Berke and Dr. Thomas Carew.

“Med Center Health is committed to providing access to care close to home in our rural communities. We are grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with the USDA to offer our patients convenient and accessible care, furthering our mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.” said Smith.

“This grant enables to expand our outreach and offer additional healthcare services to our patients in rural communities across Southcentral Kentucky,” said Hagan.

“Thanks to these funds, more families in rural areas will receive the health care and education they need,” Gov. Beshear said. “We know that education is the foundation for how we prepare tomorrow’s workforce and that a better trained, more educated workforce is what will propel Kentucky forward.”

“Rural Kentuckians deserve access to high-quality health care and education just like those who choose to live in more urban areas, and these projects will help close the digital divide for thousands who call rural Kentucky home,” said Dr. Thomas Carew, USDA Rural Development, Kentucky State Director. “Ultimately, this will lead to improved quality of life and economic prosperity, both of which make Kentucky a great place to live, work and raise a family.”

Each awardee was selected by the USDA through a competitive process.

This competitive program helps rural communities use advanced telecommunications technology to connect to each other – and the world – overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. We encourage you to consider projects that promote equity and economic opportunity in rural America, specifically those that advance these key priorities:

  • Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.
  • Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development funded projects; and

Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.

«