Shreveport, La.-based University Health System has received the United States Department of Agriculture's Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant, which will help it increase its telemedicine offerings to rural Louisianans, according to The Shreveport Times.
Together with University Health's $247,470 contribution, the $485,237 grant will be used to expand access to 500,000 citizens in 21 Louisiana parishes. Video conferencing equipment will be installed at designated locations.
"This new infrastructure and equipment at 23 end-user sites will directly connect patients in rural parishes to specialists who will meet these patients' needs as if they were in the same room with them," UH President and CEO Rod Williams said, according to the report.
In particular, UH believes the grant will help it better treat stroke victims and improve rural patients' access to care.