Conway Medical Center Awarded More Than $500,000 from FCC for COVID-19 Telehealth Program
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has awarded Conway Medical Center (CMC) $536,359 to provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. The money will be used to purchase telecommunications services and broadband connectivity services, information services, and connected devices/equipment. Through this equipment, physicians and other medical providers will be able to establish long-distance healthcare contact to give medical advice, reminders, education, intervention, and monitoring. This technology will be available in almost every department of the hospital, including primary care, neurology, pediatrics, and family medicine.
“We certainly thank the FCC for recognizing the commitment Conway Medical Center has to providing this technologically-advanced form of patient care. This will allow CMC to further our efforts to mitigate the impact and spread of COVID-19,” said Bret Barr, President and CEO of CMC. “Since the beginning of this crisis, CMC has been at the forefront of protecting our patients and staff, and this will allow us to take the next step in doing so.”
CMC is the first hospital system in South Carolina to receive this type of award. The funds are available through the $200 million in funding appropriated by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. These awards help health care providers provide connected care services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the pandemic.
“This award was applied for and secured through the CMC Foundation department. It is another great example of the support our hospital and our community receives from the CMC Foundation, which spearheaded the efforts for the application to the FCC to ensure the hospital’s success in securing the funding. This will allow us to advance our efforts to support and provide healthcare to rural and medically under-served areas,” said Barr.
CMC has begun the process of identifying the necessary equipment for purchase, and plans are in place for installation and set-up. CMC plans to have the system available and in use over the next several months.
For more information on the COVID-19 Telehealth Program Awards, click here https://www.fcc.gov/covid-19-telehealth-program.
For more information on the Conway Medical Center Foundation, click here https://www.cmcfoundationsc.com/.