OSF Health Care receives $ 943,000 grant for telehealth program

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that OSF HealthCare is the recipient of a grant of $ 943,644 as part of the second round of its COVID-19 telehealth program. This funding is part of more than $ 41 million in grants awarded today by the FCC to healthcare agencies across the country to help provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic.

OSF has conducted nearly 93,000 virtual tour meetings since the start of the pandemic, many of these visits occurring in low-income, underserved and rural counties. Funding from the FCC’s COVID-19 telehealth program will allow this work to continue, particularly by providing telehealth devices for video and telephone connections between patients and providers, with a particular focus on areas of low risk. income and hardest hit in the communities it serves.

“We are delighted that OSF HealthCare is one of the deserving healthcare organizations receiving this funding, and we are extremely grateful to our elected officials for recognizing the important role telehealth platforms play in the era of COVID- 19, ”said David Hall, MD, chief information officer, OSF Health.

He continued, “Throughout the pandemic, OSF HealthCare has worked tirelessly to find innovative ways to deliver care using telehealth technology. Our clinicians use telehealth technologies to facilitate clinical inpatient care in our intensive care units, general floors and through our home hospital services. We are also leveraging telehealth in the outpatient space to provide remote care from our offices and through our dedicated COVID-19 hotline. OSF’s mission is to serve all people with the utmost care and love and OSF’s investment in technology gives us one more tool to facilitate that care, no matter where the patient is.

The FCC’s COVID-19 telehealth program was established in the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security). It has now provided assistance to healthcare providers in every state, territory and District of Columbia to provide telehealth and connected patient care services at home or at mobile sites in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The FCC has now approved a total of more than $ 83 million in funding requests for the second round of its COVID-19 telehealth program. From community health clinics in city centers to hospitals serving rural communities across the country, these funds will support efforts to help our neighbors stay under the care of their doctors, nurses, physician assistants and health care providers. of confidence during this pandemic, ”said Acting President Jessica Rosenworcel. “I would like to thank the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau for their continued work on this vital program that continues to impact the health and well-being of all Americans.

Round 2 is a $ 249.95 million federal initiative that builds on the $ 200 million program established under the CARES Act. As noted in the Round 2 report and order, once $ 150 million in funding has been committed, the FCC Wireline Competition Bureau will announce the opportunity for all remaining applicants to complete their applications. , as required by Congress. Once all remaining applicants have had the opportunity to complete, the remaining program funding will be committed.

Learn more about the FCC’s COVID-19 telehealth program here.