Tazewell Community Health Clinic

Telemedicine Funding Announcement

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

10:00 A.M.

          I am pleased to return to Tazewell this morning to announce a provision of federal funding to establish a telemedicine link between the Tazewell Community Health Clinic and the Office of Telemedicine at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

          At my urging, the U. S. Congress has provided a grant through the Health Resources Services Administration in the amount of $227,613 to the Office of Telemedicine at the University of Virginia to establish and equip three telemedicine sites in Southwest Virginia.  I am pleased to report that one of those sites will be located here at the Tazewell Community Health Clinic.

          For the past several years, I have encouraged community health clinics, health departments, and local hospitals throughout the Ninth Congressional District to establish telemedicine sites connected to the University of Virginia's hospital in Charlottesville and have worked closely with these facilities in requesting and obtaining millions of dollars in federal funding to support the telemedicine projects.  Our work has been highly successful, and Southwest Virginia now boasts of more than 50 broadband-connected telemedicine sites, more than any other Congressional district in the nation.

          Through advances in telecommunications technology, medical images, including X-rays, lab slides and other images, can be transmitted across the telecommunications network instantly.  The specialist at the University of Virginia Medical Center receives the image with the same clarity that is contained in the original.  The specialist can see and hear the patient and can render an opinion with the same degree of certainty as if the patient had traveled to Charlottesville.

          With the benefit of $21,656.97 of the funds I am announcing today, a video-conferencing system will be installed and telemedicine equipment will be purchased including computers, monitors, an electronic stethoscope, a standard document camera, and a high resolution camera.  With $15,025 of the funding, Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems through its partnership with UVA is receiving a mobile colposcope which will be available for use throughout the System's clinics which have telemedical facilities.  The colposcope will be used in the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Additionally, funding is being provided for training of the medical staff at the clinic on the proper use of the equipment.  It is anticipated that the equipment will be in place and the medical staff trained in order to provide telemedicine services by the end of November.

          The new services will be tremendously beneficial for Tazewell residents who will be able to avoid the time and expense associated with travel to a distant medical center.  Once the equipment is in place and staff is trained, a patient may simply visit the Tazewell Clinic, and a specialist hundreds of miles away will perform an examination and render a diagnosis.

          Almost two years ago to the day, I was here to celebrate the grand opening of the Tazewell Community Health Clinic.  At that time, Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems which operates the Clinic, estimated that in the first two years of operation that clinic would treat 3800 patients.  Howard Chapman, Director of the Community Health Systems has advised me that the clinic has in fact treated 3800 patients since October 9, 2006.  With the provision of federal funding I am announcing today, we mark another significant step forward in our goal of providing access to affordable, high quality health care to all Southwest Virginia residents.

          I would like to take the opportunity of these remarks to recognize several individuals who have played a role in the success we celebrate today.

          I want to thank David Catron, Chairman of the Board and the other Board Members and Howard Chapman, Director of Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems.  Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems operates six Community Health Clinics and one mental health clinic in Southwest Virginia.  The Systems Clinics are recognized in the health care community for their innovative use of telemedicine and electronic medical records, and their efforts have been critical in expanding our region's access to high quality healthcare services.

          I also want to thank Dr. Karen Rheuban, Medical Director of the University of Virginia's Office of Telemedicine.  Karen has enthusiastically supported the establishment of the telemedicine sites in Southwest Virginia.

          Finally, I would like to thank Laura Lee, my Deputy Chief of Staff, for her persistent and persuasive efforts to expand health care services across the Ninth District.

          Working together, we are establishing an outstanding network of telemedicine sites throughout Southwest Virginia. I congratulate all involved in achieving this success.