First Six Sites Announced for Telemedicine Project in San Joaquin Valley
On Thursday, UC-Merced officials announced that six telemedicine centers in underserved cities in the San Joaquin Valley will have access to medical specialists at UC-Merced using videoconferencing and other technology to facilitate remote consultations, the Stockton Record reports.
Members of the Valley Telehealth Partnership will be able to use real-time video consultations with medical specialists in fields including dermatology, psychiatry, pediatrics, endocrinology and gastroenterology. More specialties are expected to be added (Goldeen, Stockton Record, 6/6).
The six partnering sites are:
- Castle Family Centers in Atwater;
- Mercy Hospital Family Care Clinic in Merced;
- National Health Services in Oildale;
- San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp;
- Sierra Kings District Hospital in Reedley; and
- United Health Center in Kerman.
Maria Pallavicini, dean of natural sciences at UC-Merced, said the equipment should be installed at the sites by the end of the summer.
The project is being funded through a $500,000 grant from AT&T, $200,000 from the California Emerging Technology Fund and $250,000 from the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley (Patton, Merced Sun Star, 6/6).
The first six sites are expected to lay the groundwork for a larger regional project to improve access to medical specialists for the rural and underserved communities in the San Joaquin Valley (Modesto Bee, 6/6). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.