ISSUE: Establis@nt  of  regional  and  multi-regional  resources

                        A.  Television production and network facilities


                     The Division Staff offers  the following background and

                Recommendations in this regard:


                     The first set of planninu grant  applications  received
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                     by the Division described extensive interregional
                     cooperation had not been foreseen in the drafting  of  the
                     original legislation. In addition,  these  planning  grants,
                     as well as expert consultants to the Division, pointed
                     out the need of all Regions for certain  resources  and
                     activities best developed on ''an interregional  basis,
                     e.g. training of continuing education and  other  leacersh
                     staff, preparation of  teaching  materials,'standardization
                     of data collection, refinement of  evaluation  procedures."

                     T'ne Surgeon Generalls Report to the President and      @@ss
                     spoke to this point by stating "a situation has been
                     identified with respect to certain specialized needs comt-,,ion
                     to all or a number of -Regions. The support of  a  limited
                     number of facilities and programs are needed to develop
                     techniques and prepare personnel to facilitate the  work  of
                     individual Regional Medical Programs. The  support  of  such
                     activities in agencies that can serve a number  of  Regions
                     will avoid unnecessary delay and duplication of  effort  and
                     make the best use of specialized facilities."

                     This point led to the enactment of Section 910    "funds
                     appropriated under this title shall also  be  available
                     for grants to any public or nonprofit private agency or
                     institution for services needed by or which will be of
                     substantial use to, any two or more Regional Medical Program

                     Several Re .ons have given study to the  network  problems
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                     through Task Forces, etc.  For example, the Michigan
                     Program has analyzed network needs and resources, identified
                     comparability and interchangeability problems  and  decided
                     on a course of action. Colorado-i@yoming Program  is  taking
                     the initiative in bringina- together coj=unicatioil technology
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                     specialists fron all Regional Medical Programs in  May  to
                     dete @ ne how more effective use can be made  of  technology
                     and identifying the proble@ inherent in its use.





                                              -2-


                      The Lister Hill Biomedical Comunications Center
                      and the Extramural Program of the National Library
                      of !Aedicine are two other foci of networks type
                      activities closely related to Regional Medical
                      Programs interests.  Discussions are currently
                      underway as to how such relationships can be
                      developed and implemented for the Programs.

                 RECOIQFMATION:.  Council recommends that all new operational
                 projects requesting major investments or funds for equipment
                 and activities in television be thoroughly studies by Division
                 staff and expert consultants for consideration for funding under
                 the new authority for l@ulti-program Services provided under
                 Section 910-.  I@u further recommends that applications for
                 continuation and renewal of previously funded major television
                 activities be reviewed by the same group of expert consultants
                 on the basis of the progress being made in the ao-plicant Region
                 to.Heard its television objectives, and how those activities might
                 be related or expanded to a @lulti-progr@i Service.









                                                                        February 1969