TELEHEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE

Nebraska Information Technology Commission

Monday, September 30, 2002, 1:00 p.m.

Nebraska Educational Television
33rd and Holdrege, Lincoln, Nebraska

PROPOSED MINUTES

INDIVIDUALS PRESENT:

Rod Bates, NET

Len Benson, Faith Regional Health System (via phone)

Denny Berens, Health and Human Services

Andre Boening, USDA RUS

Anne Byers, Office of the CIO/NITC

Glen Cox, University of Nebraska Rural Initiative

Jolene Davidson, Madonna Rehabilitation Services

Ann Fruhling, UNO

Peg Goeschel, Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Roger Hahn, Nebraska Information Network

Donna Hammack, St. Elizabeth Foundation

Gene Hand, Public Service Commission

Pat Hart, UNMC

Galen Karpisek, Cisco Systems

Roger Keetle, Nebraska Association of Hospitals and Health Systems

Donald A LaPoint, AET

Lori Lopez Urdiales, Office of the CIO/NITC

Keith Mueller, UNMC

Mari Sanders, Alltel

Jeff Santema, Nebraska Legislature

Max Thacker, UNMC (via phone)

Keith Vrbicky, AET

Lori Warner, Nebraska Medical Association

Wanda Weekly, Good Samaritan

Tanya Wendel, Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Deori Wendt, AET

Michael Winkle, NET

For the majority of the meeting, presentations from the following telehealth resources were provided to help the committee to understand the resources available to deliver telehealth services across the state:

• Nebraska Information Network (NIN)
  Roger Hahn
• AET (American Educational Telecommunications) Emergency Response Network Proposal - Dr. Vrbicky and Don LaPoint
• Nebraska Educational Television (NET), Rod Bates
• Information Technology in Sustaining Rural Health Care Delivery Systems Project – Ann Fruhling, UNO and Pat Hart, UNMC

NUSF NEXT STEPS
Roger Keetle, Nebraska Association of Hospitals and Health Systems

A plan or methodology must be filed by 5 p.m., October 24th to the Public Service Commission for the November 5th hearing - will check into getting the date changed sometime after November 8th. An Omaha accounting firm has been obtained to assist with the financial information. A meeting with the firm is scheduled for tomorrow. Mr. Keetle invited any interested members to the meeting, and also asked for some assistance. Mr. Keetle’s work and dedication to this effort were acknowledged and recognized by members.

GRANTS
Andre Boening, USDA Rural Development

Mr. Boening reported that there are federal grants available to assist with telehealth and broadband issues. Listed below are links and web sites:

Broadband Pilot Grant Program http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/initiatives/index_initiatives.htm#broadband

(Application deadline: November 5, 2002)

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Loan and Grant Program http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/dlt/dlt.htm

(Grant application deadline: May 13, 2002; loan or combined loan/grant application deadline: August 31, 2002)

RESPONSES TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR QUESTIONS

Due to time constraints, members were asked to take the responses for their review and to send Ms. Byers any feedback.

Members briefly provided updates and reports.

NEXT MEETING DATE AND TIME

The next meeting of the NITC Community Council Telehealth Subcommittee will be held on Wednesday, October 30, 2002. The location will be determined at a later date.

Minutes were taken by Lori Lopez Urdiales and reviewed by Anne Byers of the Office of the CIO/NITC.