Erin McCann, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
[email protected]
207-661-7286
PORTLAND, Maine 鈥� AOA体育平台 is pleased to announce it is the recipient of telehealth funds through the Federal Communications Commission鈥檚 (FCC) Telehealth Program that will further enable the health system to provide exceptional telehealth care to patients across Maine and New Hampshire.
On June 24, the FCC awarded AOA体育平台 $803,268 for costs associated with rapidly expanding the health system鈥檚 telehealth infrastructure and technology in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Approximately $200,000 of the funds will be used to purchase new high-end telehealth carts and videoconferencing equipment that will enable patients to see providers from the comfort of their own home or video visit with family members they cannot otherwise see due to COVID-19 visitor restrictions.
Expanding these critical telehealth services has enabled AOA体育平台 to provide essential care to 25,000 unique patients who have been able to receive care even when many provider offices were closed. In 2019, AOA体育平台 conducted close to 15,000 telehealth visits. Since the coronavirus pandemic started this year, the health system has already conducted nearly 53,000 total patient visits, which include office visits, mental health counseling and preventative health screenings.
To date, patient satisfaction for individuals who have utilized telehealth services across AOA体育平台 has also been overwhelmingly positive.
鈥淲e are incredibly grateful to the FCC to be receiving these telehealth funds. This funding helps give our patient communities the opportunity for more convenient access to high-quality care where and when they need it,鈥� said AOA体育平台 Director of Telehealth Jasmine Bishop. 鈥淕iven Maine and New Hampshire鈥檚 more rural geography and older age demographic, these telehealth services are critical and enable our providers to continue delivering care to our patients who need it the most. This funding will also make it possible for our health system to give our patients in more rural areas easier access to specialists and provider expertise, without having to travel long distances for care.鈥�
The funding AOA体育平台 received is part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which allocated $200 million to supporting health care providers鈥� use of telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. To date, 444 health care providers and organizations have received funding.
鈥淓xpanding our telehealth program has enabled us to provide an innovative and convenient way of delivering high-quality care to our patient communities in a very challenging environment,鈥� said Bishop. 鈥淭his federal funding allows us to continue doing this important work and provide these benefits to a greater number of patients.鈥�
Telehealth services at AOA体育平台 from March 18-June 23:
- 55,626 completed video visits
- 60,788 telephone visits
- More than 1,000 providers using telehealth
- 25,000 unique patients served
For more information on AOA体育平台鈥檚 telehealth program, please visit our telehealth website here.
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