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NEVADA TELEHEALTH NETWORK
PROGRAM HISTORY/DEVELOPMENT
The Telehealth program has developed over the past 16 years from an initiative begun by the Nevada AHEC system, starting with connections to rural sites through telephones, U.S. mail service and fax machines. Developed as CAMIL (Computerized Assistance Medical Information Link) to receive practitioner requests for medical literature, the School of Medicine Library service provided the medical resources back to the community. Evolving with technology, the system eventually added the Nevada Telecommunications Network to serve the needs of education, administration and telemedicine services. The Network recognizes significant partnership resources, in particular, Nevada Rural Hospital Partners.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The three service aspects of the Nevada Telehealth Network provide compressed video technology to support administrative uses of health care practitioners, facilities and organizations. Additionally, continuing education, continuing medical education and educational courses are broadcast between fifty-six community sites. The system provides opportunities for Telemedicine that allows rural and frontier patients to be seen by a practitioner in a comfortable environment, without having to travel long distances from their home communities. Local physicians bring treatment to local patients utilizing a network of interactive video sites connecting with specialist physicians across the state.
HISTORICAL MILESTONES
| 1990 |
CAMIL (Computer Assisted Medical Information Link) system established |
| 1994 |
PHIL (Public Health Information Link) system established |
| 1994 |
Tele-video Network System established |
| 2000 |
Tele-video Network System begins upgrades and expansion |
| 1995 |
Nevada State Office of Rural Health petitions Nevada Public Utility Commission on behalf of rural services regarding Nevada Bell over-earnings case |
| 1998 |
Office of Rural Health establishes non-profit Rural Telecommunications Task Force to address applications and barriers to rural telecom services |
| 1999 |
Nevada Legislature assists rural telecommunications by establishing Consumer Advocate function in Attorney General’s office through mill tax |
| 2001 |
Federal appropriation of project “Conquering the Digital Divide in Rural and Frontier Nevada” assists in the development of technology infrastructure |
| 2004 |
Inclusion of tribal health centers and access to the Phoenix Area IHS Offices |
| 2006 |
Partnership with Shiners’ Hospitals for Children to facilitate the telehealth consultative needs of Nevada patients to specialty services in Utah and California |
| 2006 |
Partnership with the Veteran’s Administration-Elko for consultative services for veterans |
PROGRAM STATISTICS AND OUTCOME MEASURES
The UNSOM community partnership network annually provides support for:
- 200-300 academic activities;100-250 statewide meetings
- Specialty consults for rural Nevadan’s ranging between 94 and 126 hours of contact time with UNSOM physicians
- Between 70 and 180 classes and training programs
- Digital network supports transport of the rural tele-radiology program-approximately 200,000- 400,000 images a month for rural hospitals
Click here for a current map of telehealth locations.
For additional information contact:
Dan Tone, (775) 784-7729 or Gerald Ackerman, (775) 738-3828
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