Shuster Announces New Healthcare Collaboration
Press Release
Shuster Announces New Healthcare Collaboration
Today, Congressman Bill Shuster joined representatives from the Home Nursing Agency, JC Blair Hospital, UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital, Broad Top Area Medical Center and Fulton County Medical Center in Altoona to announce a new healthcare collaboration using telehealth technology to improve healthcare services for people throughout the 9th district.
Congressman Shuster helped secure a federal grant totaling $689,682 from the Health Resources and Service Administration, Office for the Advancement of Telehealth Network for this important program. The funds will be disbursed over the next three years and will be used to improve the health of patients living in rural areas that have chronic conditions.
"Improving rural healthcare remains a top priority in my congressional agenda and I am proud to see programs like this break down the barriers that prevent patients from receiving quality medical care in rural areas," Shuster said.
"Telehealth is really a marriage between healthcare and technology which enables real-time patient monitoring and care without the need for costly hospital stays," Shuster added. "I am encouraged to see this project move forward and I look forward to working with the Home Nursing Agency to make it a success."
The Home Nursing Agency's Collaborative Telehealth Network is oriented to accomplish the following goals:
· Reduced hospitalization rates per home health episode of patients with chronic disease management;
· Reduced emergency room visits per home health episode of patients with chronic disease diagnosis;
· Enhanced development of an integrated Clinical Information System that links patient data obtained through telehealth with patient's electronic chart & medical record.
"We're very grateful for the support and leadership from our regional healthcare partners, and from Congressman Shuster. We could not achieve the intended goals of this project without their cooperation and shared values of improving the quality of lives for our rural residents coping with chronic illnesses," said Bob Packer, President and CEO of Home Nursing Agency.
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