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History
of the UPTN
The geographical isolation, growing elderly population, transportation
challenges, harsh winter climate and the innovativeness of regional
health care leaders has provided the ideal setting for the deployment
of telehealth services in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
What started in 1994 as a small effort to provide distance learning
to physicians among five initial sites has led to a sophisticated
42-site network that provides over 6,000 annual connections. The 42
sites represent 10 Critical Access Hospitals, 4 community hospitals,
a regional referral center, a tribal health center, a health care
network, a health plan, a summer camp for handicap children, behavioral
health clinics, and several medical clinics.
The Upper Peninsula Telehealth Network (UPTN) provides core services
in professional education, the medium for clinical consultations,
the medium for administrative meetings, deployment of telehome care
systems, community education and video conferencing services for community
groups/businesses. Teleradiology and telepathology in the region was
initiated as part of the UPTN, and leadership now resides within the
imaging and information technology sectors of MGHS.
Marquette General Health System (MGHS) is the hub for the UPTN and
provides support functions among the independent sites. The support
functions include administration of the multipoint control unit (bridge),
communication and coordination among network members, advocacy for
advancement on telehealth policy and telemedicine reimbursement, technical
assistance, educational programming, grant administration and promotion
of telehealth applications.
The UPTN has been fortunate to receive several federal and state grants
to develop and expand the telehealth network to meet the growing needs
of health care in our region. Without this financial assistance, the
small health care facilities would not have been able to justify the
start up costs that were required at the time of deployment. Grant
programs that have contributed to the development of the UPTN include:
· USDA, Rural Utilities Services
· HRSA, Office of Rural Health Policy
· HRSA, Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT)
· State of Michigan Rural Health Initiatives programs
· SBC Foundation
· Upper Great Lakes Educational Technologies, Inc. (UGLETI)
All initiatives started with grant funds have continued post grant
periods, and are self-sustaining. Network sustainability has been
achieved through site independence, infrastructure collaboration with
the regional health information network, membership fees, and fee-for-service
opportunities available to non-network organizations.
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