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Medisota, Inc. Honored by USDA Rural Development

Company awarded $102,100 grant to provide telemedicine services in southwest Minnesota

 MONTEVIDEO, Minn., March 1 – Steve Wenzel, State Director of Rural Development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), visited Chippewa County-Montevideo Hospital today to present Medisota, Inc. with a $102,100 grant award. Medisota will use the grant to connect 14 hospitals in rural southwestern Minnesota with videoconferencing, allowing each hospital face-to-face communication to recruit health care professionals, treat patients, and enhance their education program.

    “Healthcare technology creates a flatter world, which allows rural hospitals to provide some of the same services as urban hospitals,” Wenzel said. “President Bush has put a heavy emphasis on equipping rural hospitals with the latest technology. This grant will be a major boost to southwestern Minnesota’s ability to meet the demand for quality health care, spur economic development, and improve the quality of life.”

    All 14 of the hospitals that will be connected are designated critical access. Five are located in medically underserved areas. The project will serve over 132,000 residents in 11 counties. Medisota is based in Dawson, Minn.

    “On behalf of all Medi-Sota members and those recipients of the grant award, I want to thank the USDA for this opportunity to expand our teleconferencing capabilities to make education and other healthcare opportunities more accessible to staff and patients throughout our region,” said Frank Lawatsch, President of Medi-Sota. “I want to also thank representatives from Minnesota West Community & Technical College and Onvoy, Inc. for attending this event. MediSota has a contract with the college to provide and coordinate Educational Programs for the consortium. Medi-Sota Education Coordinator Carol Gerlach will be instrumental in the success of this project. As Medi-Sota’s preferred network provider, Onvoy will also play an important role by providing the necessary technical assistance and support in this project.”

Hospitals that will be connected via the grant are:

•   Hendricks Community Hospital Association

·       Granite Falls Municipal Hospital and Manor

·       Chippewa County-Montevideo Hospital

·       Redwood Area Hospital, Redwood Falls

·       Johnson Memorial Health Services, Dawson

·       Appleton Area Health Services

·       Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center

·       Murray County Memorial Hospital, Slayton

·       Tracy Area Medical Services

·       Swift County-Benson Hospital

•    Madelia Community Hospital

·         Meeker County Memorial Hospital, Litchfield

·         Sioux Valley Canby Campus

·         Paynesville Area Health Care System

    USDA Rural Development aims to spur economic development and improve the quality of life in rural areas. The agency invests in Minnesota’s rural communities by providing funding for clean water, quality health care, renewable energy, high-speed Internet, emergency response, housing, and other infrastructure projects.

    For more information on USDA Rural Development, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/mn, or call the office in Willmar at (320) 235-3540.

 

A representative from Onvoy demonstrates how the telemedicine technology works. On the screen is the administrator of the White Earth Health Clinic in Mahnomen.

State Director Wenzel signs the $102,100 ceremonial check, awarding MediSota, Inc. its grant. Behind the check are USDA Rural Development employees along with MediSota representatives and representative from U.S. Senator Norm Coleman's office.
 
Send mail to adam.czech@mn.usda.gov with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: November 01, 2007