NEWS
RELEASE
United States Department
of Agriculture Rural Development
3001 Coolidge Rd. 2nd Floor North Suite 200 East Lansing, MI 48823
Phone: (517) 324-5204 Fax: (517) 324-5225
alec.lloyd@mi.usda.gov
CHARLEVOIX AREA HOSPITAL RECEIVES $248,627 TO ENHANCE PATIENT CARE
EAST LANSING, Feb. 8, 2008 USDA Rural Development Director for Michigan Gene DeRossett today presented ceremonial $248,627 telemedicine grant check to Charlevoix Area Hospital to improve access to quality health services to northern Michigan residents.
Our mission at USDA is to improve the quality of life for rural Michigan residents, DeRossett said. This investment in Charlevoix Area Hospital will improve access to key diagnostic tools, making it possible for rural patients to obtain the advice of top-notch experts that would otherwise be out of reach.
The money was awarded through the USDA Rural Development's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant program. The resulting project will enhance medical services at the Beaver Island Rural Health Center, the Boyne Area Medical Center, the East Jordan Family Medical Center and the Bellaire Family Health Center. The enhancements include interactive audio/video services for diagnostic consultation with staff at the Charlevoix Area Hospital and enhanced radiological services.
USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity, liquidity, and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/.
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