Northern Inyo Healthcare District in Bishop, Calif., was granted funding to establish a new telemedicine-equipped room after the successful launch of the organization's virtual care substance abuse program, Sierra Wave Media reports.
NIHD will use funding awarded by the Sierra Health Foundation to convert one of its current office spaces into a telemedicine room, equipped with virtual care technology for video conferencing and remote examinations. The grant is the second NIHD has received this year, following its first financial award from Bridge Grant to launch its opioid use disorder telemedicine treatment program. Since rolling out the program for patients this year, NIHD has treated more than 50 individuals for substance use disorder.
The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, in conjunction with the Medication Assisted Treatment Access Points Project, awarded more than $16.4 million to 120 organizations at more than 279 sites across California. The grants support treatment outcomes and management of care services for the recovery of opioid and other substance use disorder patients.
NIHD comprises a 25-bed critical access hospital as well as various specialty clinics for internal medicine, pediatrics and general surgery, among others.