Virginia Governor Kaine Announces Federal Technology Grant to Improve Health Outcomes for Rural Virginians

Also announces major digital government awards at COVITS 2007

September 17, 2007 -- CHANTILLY – Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that Virginia has been awarded a $1.1 million health information technology grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve rural health. The announcement was made during today’s 9th Annual Commonwealth of Virginia’s Innovative Technology Symposium (COVITS).

The Governor also announced that Virginia’s Web portal and three state agency Web sites received top awards from the Center for Digital Government as part of a national effort to recognize outstanding state government Internet sites and applications. The Best of Web awards program recognizes state and local government Web sites based on their innovation, Web-delivery of public services, efficiency, economy and functionality for improved citizen access.

In an effort to reduce the morbidity and mortality of stroke in Virginia, the Virginia Department of Health partnered with the Virginia Telehealth Network and the Virginia Stroke Systems Task Force to create a plan for developing the Virginia Acute Stroke Telehealth Network, or VAST. The federal grant will allow implementation of the VAST Network in the Shenandoah Valley, where health IT applications will be deployed to improve stroke prevention, diagnosis, emergency treatment, and rehabilitation.

The $24 million federal initiative is designed to promote the expansion and implementation of electronic health records and other health-related IT applications. The federal grant will extend from September 2007 through February 2009. (contact: Kathy Wibberly/VDH, 804.864.7426)

“The integration of health information technology into our rural health care system to prevent and treat stroke moves us forward in the right direction,” Governor Kaine said. “This federal grant will help expand the flow of patient information and medical expertise that is presently available in many areas of our state.”

Virginia’s incidence and mortality rates for stroke are among the highest in the nation. In 2004, the National Center for Health Statistics estimated Virginia was 7.8 percent above the national stroke mortality rate of 50.0 per 100,000.

The federal funds will allow small rural hospitals across the Shenandoah region to diagnose ischemic stroke and administer the clot-busting drug t-PA in a more timely fashion through the use of tele-radiology. This technology allows the transfer of CT scans for rapid evaluation by a stroke neurologist potentially located many miles away. In addition, a robot called the RP-7 will be used to support the evaluation of stroke patients through an audio and video conferencing capability. This will allow a small rural Critical Access Hospital like Bath Community Hospital to link to medical professionals at other facilities in the region, including the University of Virginia Health System, Augusta Medical Center and Rockingham Memorial Hospital.

The grant will be administered by the Department of Health in collaboration with the Virginia Telehealth Network, Bath Community Hospital, VaLiance Health, the Central Shenandoah EMS Council, and a variety of other partners.

In addition, Governor Kaine also announced several Digital Government Achievement Awards (DGAA) from the Center for Digital Government at today’s 2007 COVITS meeting. The state’s official Website, www.virginia.gov, moved up in the “Best of the Web” rankings from fourth to third place among the 50 states. Other state honorees include the Council on Virginia’s Future, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy. Virginia received more honors than any other state in 2007. (contact: Judy Napier/Deputy Sec’y of Technology, 804.692.2558)

“Across Virginia, we are using information technology to develop innovative and cost effective tools that improve customer service and support our management and business processes,” said Governor Kaine. “These awards demonstrate our commitment to improving citizen service and smarter management of state government.”

The Council on Virginia’s Future was honored with the DGAA in the Government to Citizen category for its Web site, Virginia Performs. The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy was awarded for its WaterTrans application for the Division of Mined Land Reclamation in the Government to Business category. The Department of Transportation’s Integrated Project Management system was honored with the DGAA in the Government Internal category.

COVITS brings together annually a community of senior-level executives and technology decision makers from state and local governments, business and education to identify, discuss and propose solutions to Virginia’s critical technology issues. The conference is hosted by Secretary of Technology Aneesh P. Chopra on behalf of Governor Kaine.

Source: Virginia Governor