Indiana Telehealth Network

Mission Statement of the Indiana Telehealth Network:To improve the health and well-being of Indiana residents, particularly those in rural areas, through the utilization of a dedicated broadband health network to deliver telehealth applications including but not limited to telemedicine, health information exchange,  distance education and training, public health surveillance, emergency preparedness, and trauma system development.   

Funding for the Indiana Telehealth Network: Funding for the Indiana Telehealth Network will be made available through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Rural Health Care Pilot Program.  The program is administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).  The Indiana Telehealth Network filed a grant application with the FCC in May of 2007.  The application estimated costs of building a 100 megabit fiber network to the 35 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) throughout the state of Indiana.  In November of 2007, their application for $16,138,270 was approved.  These funds represent 85% of the total cost of building the network. The remaining 15% will be matched through state and local contributions.  Per the FCC Order, FCC 07-198, funding provided under the Pilot Program will be used to support the costs of constructing dedicated broadband networks to connect health care providers.  Once the initial funding has been depleted, the Indiana Telehealth Network hopes to apply for future grants to expand the network to include other hospitals and clinics throughout the state of Indiana.    

FCC Rural Health Care Pilot Program Steering Committee: The Indiana Telehealth Network formed a Steering Committee (FCC Steering Committee), which is made up of representatives from healthcare providers, telecommunication companies, representatives from the Indiana Office of Community & Rural Affairs (OCRA), and representatives from the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA), the lead entity for the Indiana Telehealth Network.  

Contact:
Becky Sanders
Product Manager
bsanders@indianarha.org 
317-517-3961