Rural Health Group Wins Grant

North Idaho Rural Health Consortium in Coeur d’Alene has been awarded a grant from the Rural Utilities Service, a U.S. Department of Agriculture agency.

The agency has announced $7.5 million in grants to 29 education and health care organizations in 23 states to help bring the Internet computer network to rural America.

The North Idaho Rural Health Consortium was awarded $345,412. Using interactive video technology, the consortium will link five rural health care centers and North Idaho College. It will enable the linked sites to transmit digitized X-rays and other patient information, including laboratory tests, provide access to the Internet and offer nursing and medical classes.

The grants will help “build the infrastructure needed in rural America as we enter a new century, a new era of technological innovation,” said Wally Beyer, Rural Utilities Service administrator.

The grants also will link rural schools to other classrooms in rural and urban areas, providing advanced courses and interactive educational opportunities. The grants to health care organizations will help rural citizens get specialized and general care closer to home.

, DataTimes