Tennessee?s telemedicine project to be expanded

Thanks to a $1.8 million grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee Health Foundation, an existing telemedicine network will be expanded to 11 rural sites throughout the state to benefit pregnant women.

The expansion will allow obstetrics specialists in Knoxville and Chattanooga to be able to consult electronically at rural clinics that lack experts.

The grant will help extend the network to Winchester, Tullahoma, McMinnville, Cookeville, Livingston, Crossville, Jellico, Morristown, Newport, Sevierville and Athens.

Dr. Steve Coulter of Blue Cross Blue Shield said:

"[Tennessee] ranks near the bottom of the list of all the states in the category of health care for mothers and their babies."

Three years ago, the Community Health Network - off which this project is being built - was created and has since served more than 1200 patients statewide and become a national model, according to CEO Keith Williams.

'Telemedicine Technology' expanding in Tennessee (Associated Press)