Dean Clinic has been awarded a $446,375 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture as part of the agency’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine program. The grant will fund programs to improve health and safety in rural communities.
Telemedicine allows healthcare professionals to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients in rural locations using telecommunications technology like video conferencing. This allows patients in rural areas to access medical expertise and care quickly, efficiently and with less travel.
The specific grant amount is designated to assist in the purchase of telemedicine equipment in seven Wisconsin counties, including Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Iowa, Richland and Sauk counties. Over time Dean intends to invest resources in more counties and locations; its early plans already incorporate tactics that extend beyond what the grant itself funds.
Todd Burchill, Dean’s vice president of strategic planning and business development, said the clinic’s telemedicine sites will help improve access and patient care in areas like oncology, neurology/stroke, pharmacy, and other specialty services. He also said they would lower costs and lower the time patients normally spend commuting to other areas for care.
