U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Services Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program has awarded Essentia Health a $213,564 grant to expand its telemedicine services in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
The Duluth, Minn.-based health system already offers telehealth at 25 sites in more than 20 specialties, including emergency services and nutrition education. This grant will help Essentia Health establish 21 rural clinics and two hospital/clinic sites by providing funds to purchase videoconferencing carts, cameras and stethoscopes, among other equipment.
The grant will also help the health system provide additional resources to the system's three highest volume telehealth sites in Ashland, Wis., Deer River, Minn., and International Falls, Minn.