Raleigh, NC – Piedmont Communications, a member of CarolinaLink, the North Carolina’s Broadband Cooperative Coalition, announced a $500,000 commitment and ten-year partnership with UNC Children’s Hospital to support rural virtual health programs across the state. The gift from CarolinaLink will allow UNC Children’s to develop a telemedicine program that will connect children in rural areas across North Carolina with specialty providers at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.
Richie Parker, Chief Executive Officer for Piedmont Communications commented on the gift stating, “Piedmont Communications is proud to partner with our CarolinaLink members to make this gift to UNC Children’s Hospital. We believe this new virtual health program will provide families living in rural communities access to world-class health services. At Piedmont Communications, we focus on serving rural areas, and this telehealth initiative shares that same mission.”
UNC Children’s has already begun forging partnerships with other health systems and pediatric offices in communities across the state to launch the telehealth programs. Locations will be selected in areas where it is more difficult to travel to the Triangle for pediatric specialty services.
“By partnering with rural pediatric clinics and other rural care providers, we’ll be able to bring specialty care closer to home for these children and their families,” said Michael Steiner, MD, MPH, Pediatrician in Chief at UNC Children’s Hospital. “We are grateful for the commitment and support from CarolinaLink and we are excited to launch this new telehealth program.”
The Chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, also thanked CarolinaLink stating, “The ability to provide the best care to more families will have such a positive impact on the health and wellness of children in North Carolina. I look forward to seeing the great things that come of this new program.”
CarolinaLink is made up of North Carolina’s seven broadband membership cooperatives who provide advanced technology services to many of the state’s most rural areas. The seven members include ATMC, Randolph Communications, RiverStreet Networks, Skyline/Skybest, Star Communications, Piedmont Communications and Yadtel.
For more information about the UNC Children’s Outreach Initiative Fund, visit www.unchealthfoundation.org. To learn more about CarolinaLink and their members, visit www.carolinalink.org.
About Piedmont Communications
Piedmont Communications is a local company headquartered in Dobson, North Carolina. Piedmont Communications provides Telephone, Internet, Television and Security monitoring for businesses and residential customers. For more information, visit www.surry.net.
About CarolinaLink
CarolinaLink is an advocacy group for the North Carolina Broadband Cooperative Coalition (NCBCC). NCBCC is made up of the North Carolina’s seven Broadband Membership Cooperatives, who together provide advanced technology services to many of the state’s most rural areas. Through CarolinaLink these companies advocate for public policy goals which improve the lives of North Carolinians living in rural areas, such as ensuring access to state-of-the-art communications services at reasonable prices, whatever their address. CarolinaLink member companies include ATMC, Randolph Communications, RiverStreet Networks, Skyline/Skybest, Star Communications, Piedmont Communications and Yadtel. For more information about CarolinaLink, visit carolinalink.org.
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