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Rural Health Care Program Success Story
Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network
The Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network (EMTN) began as a cooperative effort between the Deaconess Billings Clinic and five rural healthcare facilities in eastern Montana to research the potential of interactive videoconferencing to improve access to medical specialty and mental health services. EMTN now has 22 partners in 19 communities throughout Montana and Wyoming. EMTN members use support from the Universal Service Fund (USF) Rural Health Care Program to connect with each other and compatible networks throughout the state, region, and nation. In the past year, EMTN has connected to over 125 videoconferencing systems throughout the world. Telemedicine technology is used every day as a part of the fabric of Montana's healthcare system.
Thelma McClosky-Armstrong, Director of EMTN and President of the American Telemedicine Association, said that "so many health care services are provided throughout rural America because the Rural Health Care Program of the Universal Service Fund provides cost-effective support of telecommunications services to rural healthcare providers. The healthcare community in rural America considers telemedicine a lifeline and the Rural Health Care Program is critical in keeping that lifeline open, ensuring access to high quality, efficient, and safe healthcare to our rural citizens."
If not for telemedicine, many rural cardiac patients (post-surgery) might have to travel hundreds of miles to see cardiologists for a fifteen minute checkup. Tele-mental health services are EMTN's leading medical application and USF support is vital for the provision of these services. In 2004, over 700 mental health consultations were conducted along with over 400 medical consultations in the specialty areas of cardiology, nephrology, diabetes education, emergency medicine, ear, nose and throat, and orthopedics. By utilizing telemedicine healthcare services, EMTN patients save over half a million dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.
