Telemedicine in Utah: the Rural Utah Telemedicine Pilot Project

Telemedicine is broadly defined as the use of telecommunications technology in the delivery of health care at a site removed from the provider. Telemedicine can improve access to speciality care in rural areas and reduce the sense of isolation experienced by many rural health care providers. The University of Utah, in partnership with the State Department of Health, is establishing a rural telemedicine network to rural hospitals throughout the state and in western Nevada. The authors describe the development and implementation of this network and some of the barriers encountered in its implementation.