The University of South Dakota is poised to revolutionize its approach to healthcare education through a substantial $1.1 million federal grant. Awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), this funding aims to enhance telehealth services for the residents of South Dakota, a state where healthcare access can be challenging, particularly in rural areas.

This transformative initiative is a collaborative effort among USD’s School of Health Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, and Department of Psychology. Together, these departments will construct the necessary infrastructure and develop a skilled workforce to advance the telehealth project. This will enable broader service reach through spoke sites, eliminating the need for patients or providers to travel.

With the support of Senator Mike Rounds, the Telehealth Collaborative seeks to build upon USD Health Affairs’ existing investments in cutting-edge technology. “We are thankful to Senator Rounds for supporting the Telehealth Collaborative and nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders in the state,” remarked USD President Sheila K. Gestring. “This grant not only solidifies USD’s dedication to innovative and accessible healthcare, but it also underscores our commitment to serving South Dakota communities.”

The Collaborative has outlined several pivotal goals:

• Establishing an interdisciplinary telehealth platform for training healthcare students.
• Developing a telehealth curriculum and certificate program.
• Recruiting faculty and staff with telehealth expertise.
• Fostering collaborations to support rural sites using a hub-and-spoke telehealth model, especially in underserved areas.
• Creating a regional telehealth consortium aimed at sharing resources, education, training, service, and research.

The project emphasizes integrating telehealth into educational models to ensure healthcare providers are well-trained and confident in utilizing telehealth technology. Through simulated and real patient/client interactions, the two-year project endeavors to produce a practice-ready workforce equipped with cutting-edge skills and improve access to quality care throughout South Dakota.

Senator Rounds highlighted the project’s significance, stating: “This crucial investment will construct the necessary infrastructure for telehealth education, equipping future healthcare professionals with modern tools and technology. By enhancing access to quality care, especially in rural and underserved areas, this initiative will strengthen healthcare delivery across South Dakota.”

For more information, you can read the original article from KXLG.