HCTC receives telemedicine grant

             Hazard Community and Technical College is part of a $585,000 project following a grant from the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant program to expand its telehealth program. The plan is for HCTC to rotate the project from HCTC’s Technical Campus to the Leslie County Center, and then to the Lees College Campus.  This program will permit the college to offer telehealth training in combination with other allied health programs.  Additionally, more equipment will allow local health providers to become familiar with telehealth and provide students with a variety of clinical sites in the region. The project expects to serve more than 80 students over the next five years. 

HCTC President Dr. Jennifer Lindon said “Telemedicine is still a new technology, but with the receipt of these grant dollars, even more medical facilities will be able to benefit. This grant allows HCTC to purchase mobile equipment that can be taken to facilities in Perry, Breathitt, Leslie, Clay, and Letcher counties.”

            Shaun Neace, Coordinator of the Telemedicine Program, encourages those looking for a career as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or Medical Assistant to enroll in the program. “Having a telehealth background will make these students more marketable.”

            Dr. Jyotin Chandarana, who has a medical practice in Hazard, worked with HCTC to bring the Telehealth Program on board. He is excited about the advanced medicine care that can be brought locally. “This makes it possible to have national and international expertise available, right here in this community. We couldn’t be more pleased to see such a boost for our community college through this major funding,” he said.