California Telehealth Network Awarded Grant to Fight Rural Opioid Epidemic

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The front lines of the opioid crisis in rural America got another infusion of support. The California Telehealth Network (CTN), under the OCHIN Family of Companies, received federal funds to launch the Opioid and Chronic Pain Telemedicine Project across seven rural counties in Northern California. This program aims to harness the power of technology in the national battle against opioid misuse.

CTN received $197,000 under the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"This is an exciting step in expanding the models of opioid treatment to rural and underserved areas," said Abby Sears, OCHIN CEO.   

Delivering opioid care and chronic pain management services at a clinical site in rural communities is costly and difficult.  CTN is building digital connections between clinics, behavioral health providers, and pain management specialists together, and extending virtual care capabilities to where patients are in rural communities- on mobile phones, tablets and laptops.

"Through bringing trained substance use disorder specialists into clinical settings virtually, we can get services to rural settings," said Eric Brown, CTN President. "This funding will bring high quality, lower cost care to rural patients in need in California."

About CTN

CTN is California's leading network focused on increasing access to quality health care in California's rural and medically underserved communities. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit company, CTN is a coalition of stakeholders working together to create telecommunications and health information technology infrastructure, providing access to services that expand and improve health care delivery. CTN also operates the California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC), a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funded organization focused on expanding telehealth awareness, training, and adoption in California. www.caltelehealth.org.

About OCHIN

OCHIN is one of the largest and most successful health information and innovation networks, serving over 500 organizations comprised of more than 10,000 clinicians across the nation with solutions that improve the integration and delivery of health care services. OCHIN started with a commitment to deliver health information technology support and services and has continued to provide its expanding community of customers and partners with the innovative tools, knowledge, and voice needed to participate in the national health care landscape. Learn more at www.ochin.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:Jennifer Stoll, 503.943.5787, stollj@ochin.org

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SOURCE California Telehealth Network