OneNet Connectivity Delivers Health Care Services to Rural Oklahoma
In an effort to bring health care services to Oklahomans in rural communities, OneNet, the comprehensive digital communications initiative of the state system of higher education, has partnered with Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (OSUCHS) to provide connectivity that supports their telehealth program – a cutting-edge approach to provide all Oklahomans with access to quality health care services.
Meeting the mission-critical needs of Oklahoma’s health care organizations, including OSUCHS, is a vital component of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and OneNet’s commitment to providing internet access to all Oklahoma communities, regardless of geographical location.
“OneNet is consistently at the forefront of advancing technology,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson. “The leading technology OneNet provides is essential to meet the health care needs of our state’s rural communities. This connectivity is not just affecting lives, it is saving lives.”
For citizens in many Oklahoma communities, receiving quality health care can be a challenge due to proximity to providers or physical limitations. To break these barriers, OSUCHS relies on telehealth, which requires reliable internet connectivity.
“Our mission is to provide access to a primary care physician in rural and underserved communities in Oklahoma,” said Dr. Kayse Shrum, dean of the OSUCHS College of Osteopathic Medicine. “The telehealth and telemedicine services we provide these Oklahomans simply could not be done without our partnership with OneNet.”
One of these telehealth initiatives is the “Extension for Community Health Care Outcomes,” also known as Project ECHO. Project ECHO utilizes video teleconferencing to connect health care workers across the state during regular sessions with an OSUCHS team. These sessions give rural physicians specialty knowledge needed to treat complex medical conditions and offer collaborative assistance with specific cases. OneNet’s reliable internet connection facilitates innovative telehealth solutions like Project ECHO. Click here to see how OneNet connectivity facilitates these solutions.
“OneNet aims to be a foundation that enables Oklahomans to develop innovative, world-class initiatives,” said Vonley Royal, OneNet executive director. “OSU’s telehealth program proves that when connectivity is fast and reliable, the possibilities are endless.”
Recently, Rep. Jadine Nollan (R-Sand Springs), Sen. Tom Dugger (R-Stillwater), Sen. Dave Rader (R-Tulsa) and Sen. Kevin Matthews (D-Tulsa) spent the day with representatives from OneNet and OSUCHS. The legislators learned about the partnership between the two organizations and how it impacts constituents in their districts. They also toured OSUCHS’s mobile telemedicine bus, which has logged more than 100,000 miles traveling across the state to meet the health care needs of rural and under served Oklahomans.
For more information about OneNet, visit www.OneNet.net or call 888-5-OneNet.
Media Contact: Angela Caddell
405-225-9346