Today's editorial on UC Merced's plans to set up a live video network linking Valley patients to specialists in big cities is a testament to alignment. The university has a long-range goal of establishing a medical school. That will take years of effort to accomplish. While all that talking, fund-raising and negotiating is taking place, the university has secured nearly $1 million in grant money for teleconferencing equipment. This not only serves Valley residents immediately, but it also will help in the campaign to establish a med school in two ways:
* Creating a successful telemedicine network could help persuade state officials to vote for a medical school at UC Merced because the Valley's legislators can see that this is something that addresses the needs of their constituents.
* If a medical school is approved, the telemedicine network also would allow students assigned to Valley clinics to stay connected to the Merced campus.
Ultimately that is a lesson for all Valley communities in making big dreams happen. The leaders make steady, savvy, incremental progress that keeps moving them ever closer to the prize. We will get that medical school.
A Telemedicine Network will be a big advantage for the rural and underserved areas of the Valley. Real time access to specialists can go a long way in helping the health of our communities. The Communications Workers Of America (CWA) are working on a project called Speed Matters that promotes high speed broadband access for all Americans. Telemedicine is just one of the applications we need and can achive if we work together and let our legislators know just how important this is.
Check out the website at www.speedmatters.org