Telemedicine at UnityPoint Health - Des Moines
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines was awarded an $8.3 million grant by the U.S. Department of Commerce Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) to upgrade and improve broadband technology. UnityPoint Health – Des Moines sought this grant to increase access to and improve the quality of health care for many Iowans.
About Rural Iowa Telehealth Initiative
This program was established to deliver affordable health care and education to Iowans living in rural and, often, the most medically under-served communities. The Telehealth Initiative will increase broadband service and technology in these communities to ensure public safety workers, residents and health care professionals have access to information and the best training and tools available. The Telehealth Initiative will also assist rural Iowa communities with their ongoing economic development efforts.
Telemedicine Partners
BTOP Grant
The BTOP grant was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided a total of $7.2 billion to U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) to fund projects to expand access to broadband services.
NTIA is utilizing $4.7 billion of that funding for grants to deploy broadband infrastructure in the United States, expand public computer center capacity, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. Iowa has received total grant allocations of more than $90 million, including an additional $17.7 million grant to UnityPoint Health to upgrade its existing fiber network.