EAST LANSING, Mich. — A new partnership including Michigan State University will focus on improving the accessibility and quality of health care by supporting telehealth networks to meet the needs of rural and underserved residents within Michigan, Kansas, Indiana and the Midwest.

“The ultimate goal of this project is to enable health organizations across the three states to implement communication technologies that increase access and quality of care," said Pam Whitten, MSU’s leader in telemedicine initiatives.

In addition, the partnership known as the Midwest Alliance for Telehealth and Technololgy Resources, will conduct telehealth research and coordinate evaluation activities with three other resource centers. Besides MSU, members of the partnership include Marquette General Hospital in Marquette, the University of Kansas and Purdue University.

The telehealth resource center initiative is a new concept organized and funded by the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth of the Health Resources and Services Administration. That office has awarded approximately $1 million in federal funds to be distributed among the partnership’s members.

The allied institutions offer a combination of individual expertise, and each will provide a distinct component of technical assistance, training and support to health care providers. MSU will lead the evaluation arm of the partnership.

“After three years, we hope to have facilitated the creation of broad interweaving networks across the state and region that enable people to access all types of health care services through communication technologies no matter where they live,” said Whitten, professor of telecommunication, information studies and media.

Telehealth networks use technology such as video conferencing, streaming media and wireless communications, allowing specialists to share information and provide patient care over long distances. Marquette General Hospital has become a leader in telehealth through its commitment to meet the needs of rural and underserved residents.

Each alliance partner has a defined role, with Marquette General Hospital taking the lead in grant administration, overall alliance coordination and technical assistance in program development.

The alliance leverages the combined expertise of four telehealth and information technology providers:

• A rural regional telehealth hub (Marquette General Hospital)
• An academic statewide telehealth hub (Kansas University, Center for TeleMedicine and TeleHealth)
• A telehealth research facility (MSU)
• A health care engineering facility (Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering at Purdue University)

These organizations offer a combination of individual expertise and resources that will benefit health providers and residents across the three Midwestern states, added Whitten.

The partners recognize specific problems within the health care delivery of the three states that include limited access to health care for rural and underserved populations, developing telehealth programming to address health care access, and financial constraints of health care organizations that limit educational opportunities.

“These issues often result in delayed treatment or less than optimal health care for residents, unsuccessful and unsustainable deployment of telehealth programming, and lost research opportunities that can contribute to the national learning community,” Whitten said.

The alliance will support existing and developing telehealth networks to meet the needs of rural and underserved residents within the tri-state region through the development of a regional telehealth resource center.

###

Michigan State University has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research and outreach for 150 years. MSU is known internationally as a major public university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Its 14 degree-granting colleges attract scholars worldwide who are interested in combining education with practical problem solving.