The South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC) was recently funded for the 7th time (since 2010) to the Institute for Digital Health & Innovation at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. This three-year grant for $975,000 is funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and will fund the expansion of digital health services in rural communities with known health disparities across Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
This grant is part of a $13.6 million package that HRSA awarded to the National & Regional Telehealth Resource Centers (the SCTRC being one of the regional TRCs) as part of an initiative to expand digital health nationwide and improve health in underserved communities.
“Many diseases are preventable, and illnesses can be detected early when our communities have access to quality health care and health education through digital health,” said Hari Eswaran, PhD, the center’s director.
Under the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation, the South Central Telehealth Resource Center is part of the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers and is one of 12 regional telehealth resource centers in the consortium.
Funded for the past 10 years, the South Central Telehealth Resource Center uses evidence-based best practices to support and expand the integration of digital health services in educational settings and health care organizations.
The center also provides professional training, assistance and equipment to improve the delivery of digital health services throughout the three-state region.
“Expanding and enhancing digital health services can significantly reduce and eventually dissolve barriers in health care – such as distance to facilities, transportation availability and reliable educational resources – that most often affect medically underserved and vulnerable populations,” said Eswaran.
