News

Sierra-Nevada Model eHealth Cancer Community Project

“We are thrilled to be part of this important statewide initiative and it could not come at a better time,” said Susan Ferrier, Connecting to Care Executive Director. “The award not only enables us to enhance health access and quality care for residents throughout Nevada, Sierra and Plumas Counties, it is an honor to be recognized as an organization that can provide a model for innovations in health care that other communities can use in the future.” The grant project is entitled The Sierra-Nevada Model eHealth Cancer Community and increases access to care in Sierra, Nevada and Plumas Counties.

“We are excited to partner with Connecting to Care,” said Jana Katz-Bell, who is directing the project for UC Davis Health System. “It brings together a variety of community interests and represents exactly the model we need to help lead the way for others.Connecting to Care will pioneer new approaches in health care and ensure that California can integrate the latest health-related technologies in communities throughout the state.”

The Model eHealth Communities project and its related eHealth Broadband Training Program are funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The initiative has received matching funds from the California HealthCare Foundation, National Coalition for Health Integration, University of California, and United Healthcare.

Coinciding with the Model eHealth Community awards is the launch of an online training curriculum specifically designed to support the transition to technology-enabled health and health care. The new online program, accessed through the eHealth Broadband Adoption Training website (http://ehealthtraining.extensiondlc.net/), offers courses in the following areas: California Telehealth Network Orientation, Broadband Adoption, Telehealth, Consumer and Clinical Health Informatics, Electronic Health Records/ Health Information Exchange Adoption, and Change Management.

Consumers also will benefit from the training program because its educational materials will be available in local libraries, community colleges and at community centers. Studies show that 85.7% of rural libraries are the only provider of free public computer and internet access in their communities. This grant will provide thirteen computers to the Nevada County Public Library system, the Sierra College Truckee Library and the Tahoe Truckee Cancer Center Resource Center. In addition to the training and educational materials, these computers will enable Nevada County residents to have free public access to eHealth resources, chronic disease management information and Personal Health Records (PHR). PHRs give consumers the ability to obtain and manage their own electronic health record which is entirely the property of the individual and not tethered to insurance or health facilities.

Connecting to Care received two Model eHealth Communities awards from UC Davis Health System and the California Telehealth Network (CTN) for its commitment to advancing health and health care using the latest in telecommunications technologies. The awards, part of more than $5 million in funding support to 15 community groups across California, are designed to assist communities in becoming best-practice examples in the use and integration of technology to improve health and health care for local residents.The award provides approximately $325,000 worth of eHealth technologies, telehealth equipment and specialized, community-based training and management to help local sites connect to and use the new broadband system now being established by the CTN.

For more information about the Model eHealth Communities program, visit the website.http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/cht/initiatives/BTOP/index.html

  • Connecting to Care
  • 120 No. Auburn Street, Suite 212
  • Grass Valley, CA 95945
  • Executive Director: Susan Ferrier
  • Board of Directors Chairperson: Elizabeth Mantle
  • Phone: 530-274-0292
  • Fax: 530-274-2900
  • Website: www.connectingtocare.org