LOS ANGELES (CNS) - More than six dozen health care providers in both urban and rural areas of the country, including four Southland clinics, were awarded funding today by the Federal Communications Commission to provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic.
A total of 77 providers nationwide were awarded $29.41 million in the latest round of funding disbursements. To date, the FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which was authorized by the federal CARES Act, has approved 444 funding applications in 46 states plus Washington, D.C. for a total of $157.64 million in funding.
The local health care providers that were approved for funding are:
-- Center for Family Health and Education, in Panorama City, which was awarded $313,974 for tablets, a remote monitoring platform and remote monitoring equipment, and a telehealth platform to expand telehealth services for chronically ill patients who need regular monitoring at home to keep them away from potential infection at the clinic and to free up providers on site for triage and testing for COVID-19.
-- Kheir Clinic, in Los Angeles, was awarded $45,132 for smartphones, videoconferencing equipment, a telehealth platform subscription, and telecommunications upgrades to establish video telehealth services and expand telephonic visits for primary care services, including chronic disease management, medication refills, and consultations for sick patients.
-- Pacific Clinics East, in Monrovia, was awarded $254,524 for laptop computers, smartphones and videoconferencing equipment and software that will be used by mental health practitioners to connect with clients and provide care with allowable video conferencing technologies.
-- San Fernando Community Health Center, in San Fernando, was awarded $112,244 for laptop computers, tablets and network upgrades that will support telehealth exams for patients at home, as well as remote monitoring equipment to assess blood glucose levels, blood pressure, weight and physical activity. The data will be delivered to the patient-issued tablet and uploaded to their medical records.