ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
telemedicine;
schools; pilot project
Appropriates $100,000 in FY 2001-2002 from the state general fund to the Arizona telemedicine program at the University of Arizona (UofA) to determine the efficacy of using telemedicine technology in school health clinics.
Telemedicine
is the use of computers, video imaging, fiber optics and telecommunications for
diagnosis and treatment of persons in rural, geographically isolated
communities and state institutions that are a distance from a health care
provider. In 1996, the Legislature
created the Arizona telemedicine program, a multidisciplinary clinical program,
at the UofA Health Sciences Center.
Original appropriations of $3.8 million over three years established an
eight-site telemedicine demonstration project and funded the first year of
operations of a new Arizona telemedicine network. In 1999, connections were made to the infrastructure of the
Northern Arizona Behavioral Health Authority telemedicine network, for a total
of over 25 sites in the state.
H.B. 2553 establishes a telemedicine pilot program in one school district in the state to determine the efficiency of using telemedicine technologies in school health clinics. According to the UofA Health Sciences Center, existing infrastructure will be used to set up telemedicine sites in six schools. The appropriated monies will fund the necessary equipment for the schools, personnel training and connection to the network. The pilot program will provide three different services: a) school to nurse communication for situations when no nurse is available, as well as nurse to nurse communication for discussion purposes; b) nurse to specialist communication to make medical professionals in all areas available to the school health clinics; and c) health education resources such as those available on the UofA health sciences center data base.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $100,000 in FY 2001-2002 from the state general fund to the UofA Arizona telemedicine program to establish a one-year telemedicine pilot project with a school district to determine the efficacy of using telemedicine technology in school health clinics. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
2. Requires the Arizona telemedicine program to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by November 15, 2002.
3. Repeals the pilot program on December 15, 2002.
4. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 30, 2001