The University of Mississippi Medical Center has earned national recognition for its telehealth services.
A trio of Mississippi-based federal lawmakers announced Wednesday that UMMC had been awarded a $4.25 million grant for a five-year redesignation as a Telehealth Center of Excellence. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which deemed UMMC to have proven its national leadership in delivering remote digital healthcare.
The Mississippi officials celebrating the achievement are U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, along with U.S. Rep. Michael Guest. The three Republicans used their influence in Congress to help UMMC secure the designation and adjoining funding.
UMMC will also be eligible to receive subsequent awards while it is recognized as a Telehealth Center of Excellence. A unique designation, UMMC is just one of two Telehealth Centers of Excellence in the country. The other is the Medical University of South Carolina.
“As one of two telehealth centers of excellence nationally, UMMC continues to set the pace in expanding telehealth access and its effectiveness as a tool to promote wellness,” Hyde-Smith said. “It’s a pleasure to work with Senator Wicker and Congressman Guest to ensure that federal resources for this good work are maintained.”
The Telehealth Centers of Excellence program supports academic medical centers as they work to expand telehealth services to rural communities and improve patient outcomes. This funding is expected to help researchers collect data, enhance studies, and provide telehealth training to professionals. It is also anticipated to play a role in Mississippi’s rural healthcare plan, which emphasizes the value of telehealth services.
“We greatly appreciate the ongoing investment in UMMC’s telehealth initiatives that extends our ability to provide high-quality health care to rural and medically underserved areas of our state,” UMMC Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs Dr. LouAnn Woodward said.
“Telehealth allows us to monitor patients in rural hospitals, to assist patients with chronic conditions, and to help students in need of mental health services.”
