News
Welcome to Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance
Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance Partner, UVA Awarded HRSA Telehealth Resource Grant
The UVA Center for Telehealth recently announced that it will serve as a multi-level telehealth resource center in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Telehealth Resource Grant will allow UVA to be able to build upon and expand the mentoring and program development services provided by the Office of Telemedicine through the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC). Using the HRSA funding, UVA will be able to further expand telehealth activities in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia.
For more information about UVA’s Center for Telehealth or the HRSA/MATRC grant award visit the following links
http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=16049&tr=y&auid=9486881
Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance Member, Riverside Shore Hospital, Approved for Relocation
Nassawadox, VA – The Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Health has approved the relocation of Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital (RSMH) to a site immediately behind Four Corners Plaza in Accomack County.
State Health Commissioner, Karen Remley, MD cited as reasons for her approval that “when compared to the current site of Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital, the site chosen for relocation would better serve the majority of the population…” Dr. Remley continued, “the project would improve the delivery of acute care services and the overall geographical and locational accessibility of acute care services for current and future residents…”
Joseph P. Zager, Vice President and Administrator of RSMH and member of the Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance Board of Directors, stated “We are pleased that Dr. Remley came to the same conclusion as our Board of Directors, specifically that a new and relocated facility will best serve all of the residents of the Eastern Shore. The physicians, staff and Board of RSMH are delighted and look forward to working on the next phase of health care delivery for our community and to the day when the new hospital opens its doors.”
To read this story in its entirety visit the “News” section of Riverside’s website or click on the link below:
http://www.riversideonline.com/about_riverside/news/pr080911.cfm
Essex County Health Rankings for 2011
“County Health Rankings” provides access to 50 state reports, ranking each county within the 50 states according to its health outcomes and the multiple health factors that determine a county’s health. Each county receives a summary rank for its health outcomes and health factors and also for the four different types of health factors: health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical environment. Each county can also drill down to see specific county-level data (as well as state benchmarks) for the measures upon which the rankings are based.
To view the results for Essex County, visit this website: http://m.countyhealthrankings.org/node/2982
Bay Rivers Awarded the Virginia Telehealth Network’s Award for Outstanding Contribution
Bay Rivers Telehealth Alliance has been selected as one of two recipients of the Virginia Telehealth Network’s Award for Outstanding Contribution. This award recognizes an organization’s commitment to innovation and performance in efforts designed to address and enhance telehealth initiatives in rural areas. The awards were presented at the Second Annual Virginia Telehealth Summit on April 5, 2011.
Recipients were chosen based on innovation, leadership, progressiveness, potential program replication, and the ability to address the goal of providing access to quality, affordable healthcare services for rural residents. “I acknowledge this award with gratitude, on behalf of our members and partners, without whom our network’s successes would not have been possible. The award recognizes the hard work, deep commitment, and many contributions they have made to increase access to healthcare throughout our region. It also highlights the value of teamwork and the partnerships we have built together over the last few years,” stated Edie McRee Bowles, Executive Director.
For more information on the Telehealth Summit, view this article from NBC29: http://www.nbc29.com/story/14390039/improving-rural-healthcare-in-virginia
Bay Rivers Receives USDA-DLT Grant
Bay Rivers Teleheath Alliance has received a $215,199 award from the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program. This grant, with matches from partners, will establish several new telemedicine sites to support expanded rural patient care in the Middle Peninsula, Northern Neck, and Eastern Shore. Member partners gaining new telehealth capabilities are the Riverside Health System, its three rural hospitals, and Riverside Regional in Newport News; the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck Community Service Board collaborating with UVA Child Psychiatry; and the Family Maternity Center of the Northern Neck collaborating with VCU Health System Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
The new telemedicine sites will increase access to specialty care, provide increased opportunities for physician collaboration, and have a positive impact on residents’ treatment while keeping patients in their local communities. Dr. Thomas Reagan, Physician Chief of Neurosciences, Spine and Orthopedics for Riverside Health System, stated, “This award, together with Riverside’s matching funds, will allow us to purchase and install state of the art telemedicine equipment in our rural service areas to provide face to face consultations with specialists not available in those areas. This is particularly important in emergency situations such as evolving strokes, but also for patients for whom travel is impossible or a major inconvenience.” Charles R. Walsh, Jr., LCSW and Executive Director of the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck CSB stated, “I am very excited about the potential impact that this technology will have on our community. Through tele-psychiatry we will be able to provide a much needed resource in child and adolescent psychiatry.”
The grant to Bay Rivers Telehealth is one of 45 telemedicine projects announced in late January 2011 by the USDA DLT program, as part of their current year’s $34.7 million funding to expand access to services in rural areas. It is contingent upon a portion of the funding being matched by Bay Rivers Telehealth and its partner organizations.
State Advisory Council Recommends VA as Telemedicine Demonstration Site
Telemedicine recommendations from the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council were sent to Governor Bob McDonnell on December 21st, 2010. The final report includes technology themed recommendations from six taskforces of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council.
Here is the recommendation regarding telehealth:
Technology- Virginia should become a demonstration site for the use of telemedicine in areas where there are underserved populations; consider the future application of an all payer claims data base; promote the growth of access to broadband and telemedicine services; and help small primary care practices acquire small business loans to invest in new technologies.
The entire report can be viewed at:
Bay Rivers Telehealth’s Lunch and Learn Session
NNMPTC is very fortunate to have a committed corps of Site Facilitators who work closely with us to insure the highest quality experience for viewers of our health education programs. These Facilitators, who are staff members of our partner agencies, play an integral role by ensuring that viewing locations are ready and the broadcast equipment is working properly; the participants have all of the materials associated with the programs offered; and that required attendance and demographic data has been captured for our records.
NNMPTC is very fortunate to have a committed corps of Site Facilitators who work closely with us to insure the highest quality experience for viewers of our health education programs. These Facilitators, who are staff members of our partner agencies, play an integral role by ensuring that viewing locations are ready and the broadcast equipment is working properly; the participants have all of the materials associated with the programs offered; and that required attendance and demographic data has been captured for our records.
On Thursday, September 30th, Site Facilitators representing Three Rivers Health District offices in Saluda, Lancaster, King & Queen, Warsaw, and Heathsville joined Bay Rivers Telehealth’s program and evaluation team for a Lunch & Learn session. During this gathering, the group discussed the challenges they’ve encountered with the telehealth broadcasts. They offered a wide range of suggestions about how to improve the value of the programs for the community, ways to increase operational efficiency in delivering these broadcasts; and strategies for reaching more people who may benefit from the educational opportunities. Bay Rivers Telehealth extends its deepest gratitude to each for taking the time from her regular duties to provide such vital support for the Consortium.
UVa Telemedicine RAM Clinic
Telemedicine Augments Health Care at 2010 RAM Clinic: University of Virginia Health System and other organizations sponsored 260 volunteers who provided free medical, dental, and vision care for thousands of Southwest Virginia residents at the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic. Each summer the Wise county fairgrounds are transformed into a scaled-down hospital, with access to specialty care and technologies. Patients received emergency care, mammograms, ECGs, ultrasounds, chest x-rays, neurosurgery consultations, bone density testing, diabetes management, and were able to consult with specialists at UVa via telemedicine.
MPNN Community Services Board’s project with the Free Clinic
The Virginia Health Care Foundation through A New Lease on Life Initiative Grant awarded the Middle Peninsula Northern Neck
CSB and the Northern Neck Free Health Clinic a grant to provide basic mental health at the free health clinic and to provide medical care to
consumers at the CSB needing a medical home. At 6 months, they are ahead of projected goals. Bob Ritchie is our mental health counselor who is on site at the NNFHC 2 days a week for basic mental health treatment, such as depression and anxiety.
Virginia Telehealth Network
Congratulations to VTN (Virginia Telehealth Network) for receiving their 501 (C)(3) non profit public charity! Visit the website at www.ehealthvirginia.org
Central Virginia Health Services
NNMPTC commends one of its founding members, Central Virginia Health Services, on 40 years of service in rural health care. CVHS’ first community health center opened in November 1970 to provide care for residents of Fluvanna, Buckingham, and Cumberland counties. CVHS has since grown to fourteen sites serving fifteen counties and three cities. The Center held a health care festival to celebrate on August 7, 2010.
Nationwide rural health providers such as CVHS continue to face challenges in attracting and retaining health care workers – a problem being addressed in health reform policy. A recent article in the Washington Post highlights these difficulties. The physician featured works in one of CVHS’ 14 health care sites. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/08/AR2010080802832.html
Telehealth technology has been proven to strengthen rural health practices, clinics, and hospitals by providing cost-effective and timely communication with specialists in metropolitan areas and academic medical centers. Bay Rivers Telehealth’s purpose is to advance the use of telehealth in eastern Virginia, so that rural health care providers and their patients can maintain these relationships with their peers in order to improve access and care quality.
USAC Rural Health Care Division: FCC Proposes Expansion of Rural Health Care Program
On July 15, the FCC approved a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Rural Health Care Program that would establish a permanent telehealth infrastructure fund, cover more of the recurring cost for broadband connectivity, and expand the types of services and health care providers that are eligible to receive funding. These reforms are consistent with the recommendations set forth in the National Broadband Plan.
Proposals in the NPRM include:
- Support up to 85% of new broadband infrastructure costs
- Reimburse 50% of recurring monthly broadband costs (currently 25% for Internet Access only)
- Fund eligible skilled nursing facilities, dialysis centers, and off-site administrative offices and data centers
Program stakeholders are encouraged to review the NPRM and submit their comments to the FCC. Comments are due within 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
View the entire NPRM: WC Docket No. 02-60 FCC 10-125
For more information, visit: www.fcc.gov.
To Learn more about the Rural Health Care Program visit: www.usac.org/rhc
Family Maternity Center of the Northern Neck
The FMCNN delivered their first baby on June 27th, 2010. Baby Brayden Wayne was caught by Amber Price CNM and Jessica Starkey RN assisted through out the labor and birth. Mom and baby are doing great.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched the official website for the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. This website provides the most up-to-date, detailed information about the EHR incentive programs.
The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs will provide incentive payments to eligible professionals and hospitals as they adopt, implement, upgrade, or demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology.
Consortium Member News
The Family Maternity Center of the Northern Neck (FMCNN) held a grand opening for its new 9,765-square-foot, two-story building on Saturday, May 29, 2010 in Lancaster County, VA. The new center will improve access to
Medical Staff: (L to R) Susan Lanni, M.D. (VCU); Amber Price, CNM; Shirley Dodson-McAdoo, ANP, President; Jessica Jordan, CNM; Barbara Kahler, M.D., Pediatrician; and Jim Hamilton, M.D., Medical Director.
prenatal care for women in rural eastern Virginia, by providing prenatal care and low-risk delivery services at this rural health clinic/birthing center, using nurses and midwives who collaborate with physicians.
Also, patients diagnosed as high risk will receive high quality care at the
Center during the term of their pregnancies, through a Telemedicine program with VCU Health Systems. Distant clinical consultation services will be provided weekly by VCUHS’ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and are intended to address the urgent healthdisparity relative to infant mortality and poor pregnancy outcomes in rural Virginia. The program eventually will include education outreach for health care providers and members of the community, and is supported by Bay Rivers Telehealth and the VCU Telemedicine Center.
Jessica Jordan, clinical director, says that the first delivery of one of their patients may occur at the Birthing Center as soon as mid-June.
Click below to read an article about the center and view more photos (Credit: Fredericksburg Free Lance Star)
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/052010/05302010/551780/index_html?page=1
New State Law Requires Health Insurers to Cover Telemedicine Benefitting Patients and Their Physicians.
On Monday, April 5, 2010 at 2:00 PM, Governor Bob McDonnell signed SB675, a bill which requires health providers to cover costs of telemedicine services (using interactive audio and video to diagnose, consult and treat patients.) reinforce the law’s importance, this signing ceremony was broadcast from VCU Health System utilizing telemedicine video-conferencing technology to various telehealth locations in the state including five locations in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.
Click link below to view the signing of the bill.
http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=12258817