Residents in Gentry, Nodaway Counties to Gain Telehealth Access

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Missouri Acting State Director D Clark Thomas announced the agency is investing $1,621,242 to help rural Missourians gain access to healthcare. Rural areas are seeing higher infection and death rates related to COVID-19 due to several factors, including a much higher percentage of underlying conditions, difficulty accessing medical care, and lack of health insurance. This includes $718,613 provided through the CARES Act.

“These projects will allow three Missouri entities to establish or expand telemedicine networks that will ultimately improve rural Missourians’ access to much-needed, close to home, quality healthcare,” said Acting State Director Thomas. “These investments by the Biden administration are a prime example of Rural Development’s mission—improving the quality of life for rural Americans.”

USDA is funding projects through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program. The program helps rural education and health care entities remotely reach students, patients and outside expertise. These capabilities make world-class education and health care opportunities accessible in rural communities. The ability to use telehealth resources is critical, especially now during a global pandemic.

Heartland Regional Medical Center will use a $902,629 grant to expand its telemedicine capabilities in Buchanan, Gentry and Nodaway counties. The telemedicine services will help physicians and crisis responders to spend less time traveling to rural communities and more time treating patients. Rural residents will gain access to virtual hospital services, electronic intensive care units, and access to more than 70 categories of specialty care from more than 200 specialists. Behavioral health services, including emergency assessments and substance use treatment, also will be expanded through telehealth visits in partnership with a behavioral health provider in St. Joseph.

Friday’s announcement came as part of a larger statement in which Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA is investing $42.3 million to help rural residents gain access to health care and educational opportunities.