Three telemedicine programs in Alaska are receiving $900 thousand in new funding from the US Department of Agriculture. Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the awards Thursday morning.
The Tanana Chiefs Conference will receive $375 thousand dollars to expand their telemedicine programs in 24 rural villages.
Hope Community Resources will purchase video conferencing equipment with their $280 thousand grant. The organization provides services to individuals with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges around the state.
$287 thousand will go to the Arctic Slope Native Association to buy a remote dispensing system for medications. Currently, people in their remote communities can only get their prescriptions by mail.
USDA is also giving the Copper River School District nearly half a million dollars to provide distance learning programs for five elementary schools in very rural villages. Three sites are on Alaska Native trust lands.
Anne Hillman is the healthy communities editor at Alaska Public Media and a host of Hometown, Alaska. Reach her at ahillman@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Anne here.
