Telehealth Grantee Directory

Network Partners:

N/A.

Project Purpose:

The purpose of the Worcester Campus Distance Learning Initiative is to strengthen the ability of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) to deliver its professional programs through distance education and enhanced instructional technology. The project will help address regional and national needs for additional pharmacy and nursing graduates by creating an enhanced, electronically-medicated learning environment and instructional delivery system to support the expansion of the College's Doctor of Pharmacy program and the introduction of a B.S. in Nursing Degree.

Outcomes Expected/Project Accomplishments:

The project's principle outcomes will be 1.) to link the three campuses via two-way interactive video; 2.) to upgrade Internet connectivity to high performance network capability via the Internet; 3.) to enhance instructional technologies through the expansion of "smart" classrooms and computer laboratories; and 4.) to train faculty and students in the use of electronic instructional delivery systems.

Service Area:

All counties in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Services Provided:

MCPHS has been providing distance education originating from its Worcester, MA and Manchester, NH campuses since May 2001. The College offers the following degrees at the two campuses: Doctor of Pharmacy, Masters in Physician Assistant Studies and Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Equipment:

(8) Cisco Catalyst 3560 Switch; (2) Juniper Netscreen 50 Firewall; (100) Dell Optiplex GX620 Computers; (14) Cisco Wireless Access Points; (4) NEC Plasma Displays; (4) Media Director Lecterns; (8) Color Cameras with PAN: (4) NEC Projection Systems; (4) analog recording systems; (2) Tandberg 6000; (3) Toshiba projection systems; (1) Creston video package; (4) Linux kiosks systems; (4) Codec 6000 MXP Base unit; (4) Creston dual-power control mainframe.

Transmission:

TCP/IP on Private network with 8 ISDN lines as back-up, Internet VPN Tunnel as Backup.

Network Partners:

UMass Memorial Medical Center, an academic medical center in Worcester and two community hospitals: Clinton Hospital in Clinton and Marlborough Hospital in Marlborough.

Project Purpose:

Support initial phases of a digital radiology picture archive and storage system (PACS) at UMass Memorial Medical Center and between area community hospitals-Clinton Hospital and Marlborough Hospital and numerous satellite radiology locations. Once the system is fully realized, the hospital will provide teleradiology access to expert consultation in sub-specialty radiology to support patient care in regional community hospitals, health centers, and physician offices.

Outcomes Expected/Project Accomplishments:

Improved patient accessibility to sub-specialty consultations, improved access to results and images, reductions in operating costs, improved turn-around times, improved staff and radiologist efficiency, improved physician and patient satisfaction.

Service Area:

• UMass Memorial Medical Center: Worcester County and the larger Central Massachusetts region
• Clinton Hospital: Worcester County
• Marlborough Hospital: Middlesex County

Services Provided:

Digital radiology services including MRI, CT, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, mammography, diagnostic radiology, fluoroscopy, and interventional radiology, and services to operating rooms, emergency departments; in 2007, consultations between community-based providers and hospitals and academic medical center physicians.

Equipment:

GE Healthcare PACS system.

Transmission:

TCP/IP Ethernet, OC 192 Sonet Ring.