USDA awards grants for distance technology

BANGOR – Nine schools, health care providers and community centers from across the state Wednesday were awarded federal grants to improve distance learning and telemedicine in Maine.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture grants, announced at the Broadband Symposium held Wednesday at the Spectacular Event Center, are designed to encourage and improve education and medical services in rural areas through telecommunications, computer networks and advanced technologies.

The following organizations applied for and won grants for telemedicine:

. Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, $500,000 for an electronic system that will allow doctors to view intensive care patients in rural areas and participate in their care and monitoring.

. Eastern Maine Healthcare Services, $259,857 for distance learning, distance medical services and new equipment for educational programs.

. Community Health and Counseling Services based in Bangor, $434,409 for home video and health monitors to connect hospitals to clients in rural areas.

. Regional Medical Center at Lubec Inc., $461,369 for telepharmacy services, home care patient video stations, clinical education and case management services.

. Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, $127,900 for equipment purchases to expand its existing distance learning technology program.

. Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care and Hospice Inc., which serves Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties, $60,000 for home video and health monitors to connect hospitals to patients in rural areas.

The following organizations applied for and won grants for distance learning:

. Millinocket school department, $350,881 to install videoconferencing units for distance learning and telemedicine services.

. Jay school department, $454,079 for videoconferencing units for student and staff use.

. Cobscook Community Learning Center in Lubec, $249,965 for Web-based education, videoconferencing units, and computer equipment upgrades.