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The Colorado Telehealth Network, managed by the Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) and powered by Qwest Communications, is a statewide fiber-optic network that will connect nearly 400 hospitals, clinics and other health care providers in Colorado enabling them to share critical medical information over large geographical distances, thereby controlling costs, reducing patient travel time and providing a better patient care experience.
Significantly improving access to care in rural communities, the Colorado Telehealth Network will move Colorado one step closer to achieving one of Gov. Bill Ritter’s administrative promises, which was to significantly expand broadband communication to rural areas of the state.
Once implemented, the Colorado Telehealth Network will enable rural and urban providers to connect to convene consultations via video conference, send and view individual patient medical information, and monitor patients’ progress – all of which will improve the quality of care patients receive, especially in rural communities.
The Colorado Telehealth Network is funded by a $4.6 million award from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). When combined with a similar FCC award to the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council, $9.8 million will be available for the initiative.
CHA expects that the Colorado Telehealth Network will connect approximately 70 percent of the 388 eligible facilities by the end of the year and will complete connectivity in early 2010.
For more information, contact Steve Ward, CHA vice president of rural health and hospitals, at
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