BERLIN, Md. — Atlantic General Hospital has received $157,794 in reimbursement through the Federal Communications Commission’s Rural Healthcare Fund, a program that offers support to eligible nonprofit healthcare organizations in rural areas for broadband internet services.
The reimbursement offsets costs associated with high-speed internet provided by the Maryland Broadband Cooperative. According to the hospital, broadband services are used to support secure exchange of patient records. Officials say the rebate allows the hospital to expand high-speed access to underserved areas.
Atlantic General Hospital has received nearly $500,000 to date through the program. The Rural Healthcare Fund is supported by contributions from telecommunications service providers across the United States.
“The cost of providing safe, high quality care in the current environment only continues to increase. We cannot overstate the importance of the Rural Healthcare Fund, which helps make broadband internet service more affordable, ultimately reducing the cost of patient care,” said Jonathan Bauer, AGH vice president of information services.
MdBC began constructing fiber-optic infrastructure on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in 2007, including a network segment along Route 113 from Pocomoke to the Delaware state line. Broadband access later enabled Atlantic General Hospital to implement an electronic medical records system and expand data connectivity across its facilities.