The West Virginia Telehealth Alliance is a participant in the FCC's Rural Health Care Pilot Program. As a result, the WVTA will be involved in leading a number of broadband connectivity and health network projects in West Virginia. Here are highlights of these:
MPLS Backbone
- Provide eligible health care centers with enhanced connectivity from among telecommunications providers operating in the state that are utilizing the MPLS protocol
- Negate the need for health care facilities to change and build out entirely new circuits depending on the winning telco service provider
- Facilitate connection to Internet2
Dedicated Broadband Health Care Networks
- Improve broadband connectivity to enable telehealth services and connections
- Improve diagnostic capabilities and treatment options
- Ensure the appropriate level of advanced broadband connectivity to facilitate greater telehealth use and applications, as well as foster tele-training and educational opportunities
- Facilitate dedicated virtual private networks to ensure security, reliability and connectivity
- Interconnect these networks into a seamless, interoperable statewide dedicated broadband health care network not only for telehealth, but also for future needs such as advanced electronic medical record transmission and use
- Lay the foundation needed for advanced electronic medical record transmission and sharing