Telehealth Grantee Directory

Network Partners:

State medical boards: Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Orego, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming; Four Corners Telehealth Consortium; University of Maine.

Project Purpose:

Reduce the redundancies that complicate and delay the process of obtaining medical licensure in multiple jurisdictions. Promote the utilization and expansion of telehealth services across state lines while not compromising the level of protection for patients that is provided by state licensure.

Outcomes Expected/Project Accomplishments:

Reduced amount of time and paperwork required to issue a license. Improved cooperation among state medical boards. Reduced variation in policies across states. Improved information technology capability. Reduced licensure barriers to telemedicine. Tools: User Satisfaction Surveys, Data Collection Tool, Qualitative/Quantitative Data Analysis.

Service Area:

The states of Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming.

Services Provided:

The projects will streamline the licensing process by developing and maintaining a centralized interactive system wherein information about physicians will be maintained and accessible to participating boards. Previously obtained and verified evidence of physicians' qualifications will be shared and relied upon by participating boards.

Equipment:

The two proposed regional projects will streamline the licensing process by developing and maintaining a centralized interactive data management system (CIDMS) wherein information about physicians will be securely maintained and accessible to all participating SMBs within each region.

Transmission:

Not applicable.

Network Partners:

University of Texas Health & Science Center at Houston Medical School; Baytown Community Health Center; El Centro de Corazon Health Center since September 1, 2005. Actual number of patients served 1 OCT 05-30 SEP 06: 87.

Project Purpose:

To provide patients seen patients seen in primary care clinics with access to specialist/diagnostic expertise using digital cameras and telemedicine equipment.

Outcomes Expected/Project Accomplishments:

• Scheduled 87 patients; 64 percent appointment compliance. Telepsychiatry: has seen 25 patients; 57 percent
• appointment compliance. Tele-dermatology: has scheduled 41 patients; 76 percent compliance. 92 percent of
• patients surveyed graded us excellent/good for telemedicine services. 100 percent of patients would use our
• services again.

Service Area:

Baytown Community Health Cetner: Harris County; El Centro de Corazon Health Center: Harris County.

Services Provided:

Tele-psychiatry, Tele-dermatology.

Equipment:

Digital still cameras and memory cards. The vendor was CDW.

Transmission:

We are using full T1 lines.

Network Partners:

Rio Grande City Consolidated Independent School District (RGCCISD)

Project Purpose:

The program implements a comprehensive diabetes screening program in the school system and then enrolls children at high risk for type II diabetes into a treatment program. The children at risk are randomized into either a group that receives traditional treatment available in Rio Grande City or they are enrolled in a group receiving telemedicine consultations with a Pediatric Endocrinologist, Behavioral Therapist, and Pediatric Dietitian located at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 250 miles away.

Outcomes Expected/Project Accomplishments:

Access to specialized therapy via telemedicine will affect the following measurable parameters:
Weight (measure)-Scale (tool)
Blood Pressure (measure)-Blood pressure machine (tool)
Blood lipid, glucose and insulin levels (measure)-Blood work (tool)
Self Concept (measure)-Piers-Harris 2 Children-s Self-Concept Scale (tool)

Service Area:

The UTHSCSA/RGC Telehealth Network serves children in the RGCCISD. This school district encompasses the communities of Rio Grande City, La Grulla and Graciasville: all located within Starr County. Starr County is designated a single county HPSA, a single county dental HPSA, a single county Mental Health HPSA, and MUA named Starr Service Area.

Services Provided:

The UTHSCSA/RGC Telehealth Network has provided clinical telemedicine services and distance learning beginning in October, 2003. The Pediatric Endocrinologist, Behavioral Therapist and Pediatric Dietitian provide consultations to patients and families via interactive video-conferencing.

Equipment:

The equipment at UTHSCSA is a 27" Trinitron color television with PolyCom 512 Viewstation Videoconferencing unit, RGCCISD elementary schools use a PolyCom VSX 7000 unit with a 32" Toshiba color television.

Transmission:

Connections are made using IP and/or ISDN connections at 384 band width.

Network Partners:

• The University of Texas Medical Branch.
• The University of Texas at Brownsville.
• The University of Texas Health Center at Tyler.

Project Purpose:

The primary purpose of this proposal is to reduce or eliminate disparities in health care through the development of a telehealth network in three distinct and geographically distant areas of Texas: Galveston (Galveston County), Brownsville (Cameron County), and Tyler (Smith County).

Outcomes Expected/Project Accomplishments:

Community assessment outcomes identifying health conditions or delivery system components and acceptance of telehealth solutions. Established telehealth delivery pilot projects aimed at reducing site-specific health disparities identified by community collaborations.

Service Area:

3 Counties across Texas: Galveston County PMSA 12, CMSA 79; Cameron County MSA 6, HPSA and MUA; Smith County MSA 24.

Services Provided:

Project at UTHCT site to provide specialist consultations to rural clinic from UT-Tyler medical center clinicians. Development of clinical data repository collaborative effort in Galveston County. Initiation of telepsychiatry consult clinic in Cameron County.

Equipment:

At UTHCT site equipment is Polycom IP based videoconferencing between UTHCT and a TCart at the rural site in Overton, Texas.

Transmission:

OC-3 at 20MBps from UTMB out to subsites. Subsites have full T1 capabilities and ISDN to pilot project applications in communities.