INTRODUCTION Iowa Rural Health Telecommunications Program Health Care Provider (HCP) 17226 Healthcare Connect Fund Network Plan The purpose of the IRHTP program is to improve equity, access, quality, security and efficiency of medical services especially in rural Iowa through the use of various telehealth and telemedicine applications. IRHTP s vision is to have all Iowa hospitals connected to a secure, resilient broadband network. This state wide healthcare network will provide a cost effective broadband service and up to one (1) gigabit of capacity to each site. The Iowa Rural Health Telecommunications Program (IRHTP) is a consortium of 86 Iowa rural and urban hospitals and two South Dakota hospitals with the purpose to connect willing hospitals and other providers in Iowa and surrounding states to a dedicated broadband fiber network. The IRHTP network was built using FCC Rural Health Care Pilot Program funding. The network has been operational since September 2010. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Element No. 1: Goals and Objectives To provide a robust and cost effective infrastructure of broadband services to meet health care related broadband needs for its participating HCPs. The IRHTP and its participating Health Care Provider ( HCP ) locations have a variety of specific goals and objectives including the following: 1. To provide equitable access to any HCP participating in the IRHTP to broadband service, regardless of physical location of that HCP (remote rural, rural or urban). 2. To facilitate coordination of care between health care providers by providing access via the broadband network to exchange data. 3. Provide quality health care to patients in Iowa and surrounding states. 4. To facilitate access for HCPs to implement telemedicine and other health care services. 5. To continue collaboration with the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Iowa Department of Public Health to prepare for, respond to and mitigate disasters.
6. Leverage current and future broadband assets, to extend broadband service to rural and urban healthcare providers throughout Iowa and surrounding states. STRATEGY FOR AGGREGATING NEEDS Element No. 2: Strategy for aggregating specific needs of health care providers (including providers that serve rural areas) within a state or region Implementation of new services/technology over the next several years will be designed to: Add new sites to the network as IRHTP continues to grow Increase bandwidth, as appropriate, to meet evolving needs of telehealth and electronic medical records Upgrade network equipment for high speed bandwidth including access to both wired and wireless Internet access Upgrade telemedicine equipment and video for delivery of high quality health care to all patients Network monitoring and maintenance agreements to ensure reliability of network services STRATEGY FOR LEVERAGING EXISTING TECHNOLGY Element No. 3: Strategy for leveraging existing technology to adopt the most cost effective means of connecting those providers IRHTP has developed a strategy for adopting existing technology to adopt the most efficient and cost-effective means of connecting to our sites for the provision of health care services. Installed technology must support the activities at each site in communicating with patients and their families, peers, health care professionals, community stakeholders, reporting agencies, and local, state and federal agencies as follows: Direct access for patients to health care services Access to patient medical records, clinical decisions and charting applications Access to treatment team meetings with staff at remote sites for staff consultations and on each patients treatment plan Access for training to health care staff Access for health care staff to provide health care services to patients in the community IRHTP and its stakeholders will continually evaluate its clinical needs and procure advanced technology to support our mission to develop, manage, and deliver innovative, responsive, and high quality health care services.
IMPROVE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY Element No. 4: How the supported network will be used to improve or provide health care delivery IRHTP members will use the supported network to provide health care services to residents in its service area via telemedicine. IRHTP members will use the supported network over the next three to five years to: Increase bandwidth to meet the evolving needs of telehealth and electronic medical records Upgrade network equipment for high speed bandwidth including both wired and wireless internet access Upgrade telemedicine equipment and video for delivery of high quality health care services Upgraded network security to protect users and meet state, local, and federal requirements Network monitoring and maintenance to ensure reliability of network services PRIOR EXPERIENCE Element No. 5: Any previous experience in developing and managing health information technology (including telemedicine) programs IRHTP and its members have decades of experience in developing and managing health information technology, including telemedicine programs. IRHTP and its members have many years experience in developing and implementing complex networks and systems to support technology in healthcare, including real time applications like telemedicine and electronic medical records. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Element No. 6: A project management plan outlining the project s leadership and management structure, and a work plan, schedule and budget Project Leadership and Management Structure The following is a list of the IRHTP board members Name Title Hospital/Organization City, State Steven Baumert President/CEO Jennie Edmundson Hospital Council Bluffs, IA Brian Schuster Technology Director Sanford Health Sioux Falls, SD
James Burkett Jr. Director Technology Services Avera Health Sioux Falls, SD Lee Carmen Assoc. VP Information systems U of Iowa Hospital and Clinics Iowa City, IA Scott Curtis Administrator/CEO Kossuth Regional Health center Algona, IA Fred Eastman Director MRTC Telemedicine Project Des Moines, IA Robert Frieden CIO/VP Information Services Genesis Health System Davenport, IA Clarence Williams Director, Telehealth Mercy Health Network Des Moines. IA Joseph LeValley Senior VP Planning Mercy Medical Center-Des Moines Des Moines, IA Michael Myers CEO Veterans Memorial Hospital Waukon, IA Jeff Cash CIO Mercy Medical Center Cedar Rapids, IA Chad Watters Executive Director IRHTP Des Moines, IA Exofficio non-voting Work Plan and Schedule The following is a preliminary schedule of the work plan and schedule for the consortium: Topic Description Completion Date FY2017 RFP Submission of RFP June, 2017 Posting of USAC posting June, 2017 Competitive Bid for FY2017 Bid Submission All competitive bids received June, 2017 Deadline Bid Evaluation and Review of the bids received and June, 2017 contract negotiations selection of most cost effective. Contract negotiations and signing FY2017 Service Service for FY2017 begins June, 2017 FY2017 funding request Submission of completed FCC Form 462 for all consortium sites June, 2017
Budget A formal budget for broadband services will be developed by IRHTP and its members as a result of the competitive bidding process. IRHTP and its members have decades managing its broadband network and telemedicine programs at its facilities and this experience will form a new budget. The 35% match will be paid through operating revenue of the participating members.