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HARKIN ANNOUNCES FUNDS TO LINK RURAL COMMUNITIES MEDICAL CLINICS TO UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
12/6/2005
WASHINGTON, DC – As part
of his continuing support for Rural America, Senator Tom Harkin today
announced that the University of Iowa will receive a $198,000 grant
from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The funds will
be used to upgrade medical technology at nine rural University of Iowa
Community Medical Services primary care clinics and link them via the
internet to the Department of Opthalmology in Iowa City.
“By bringing this
technology to rural areas, Iowans will have shorter drives and easier
access to the most up-to-date medical technology,” said Harkin. “These
funds will help rural clinics deliver the same expert analysis
available at the University of Iowa’s world-class facilities in Iowa
City.”
The funds will be used to
bring technology to the rural medical clinics capable of using digital
cameras that can transmit photographs to opthalmologists in Iowa City.
These services will benefit communities in Johnson, Dallas, Appanoose,
Keokuk, Louisa, Tama, Benton, Cedar, and Iowa counties. 4,000 patients
are expected to benefit through this program.
The grant is delivered
through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program which is
administered through USDA’s Rural Development.