Agricultural News
Ag Secretary Announces Funding to Improve Health and Safety, and Increase Educational Opportunities in Rural Communities
Wed, 06 Jun 2012 12:25:58 CDT
Some Oklahoma residents are among the beneficiaries of a grant program funding 52 distance learning and telemedicine projects that will increase access to health care and enhance educational opportunities in 29 states.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the funding today.
"Our rural communities need access to the latest educational and health care services to compete in the 21st Century," Vilsack said." The funding I am announcing today for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program will help ensure that rural citizens receive the same high-level, specialized medical care and educational services as enjoyed by their fellow citizens in urban areas."
The projects announced today total $14 million and include 19 distance learning projects, 32 telemedicine projects and one combined project. All will benefit rural counties. Nearly half of the total funding - 45 percent - will go to counties where the minority population is greater than 30 percent. Another 18 percent of this funding will benefit areas where the Native American population exceeds 30 percent.
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma will receive a $321,739 grant to expand educational opportunities for those in the service area seeking medical training by providing interactive video conferencing and on?line courses. The project will provide the videoconferencing equipment necessary to accomplish two purposes - to increase the availability of care for those residents suffering with behavioral problems, and to offer training, mentoring and certification for residents who become mental health specialists. Presently, access to health care for the Choctaw is remote, and the resources necessary to pursue a career in health care are also remote.
Better health care services for rural Virginia: A $149,094 grant to the Appalachian College of Pharmacy will enable health officials to better manage chronic disease, specifically targeting diabetes and primary health needs in the southwest corner of the state. This award will allow the College of Pharmacy to team up with a rural hospital, health care providers and local pharmacies to offer more efficient, consistent and reliable delivery of healthcare for patients with chronic conditions.
For a complete list of the DLT awards, please click here.
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