Raleigh, NC - CarolinaLink, North Carolina’s Broadband Cooperative Coalition, recently presented $50,000 to UNC Children’s Hospital as part of a ten-year $500,000 commitment to support rural health programs across the state. With the donation, UNC Children’s will continue their telemedicine program that connects rural pediatrician providers with UNC Children’s specialists.
“Creating innovative ways to provide care to patients close to home, where they live, work, and play is part of UNC Children’s mission to serve the state. The partnership with CarolinaLink has been a stimulus to get more of that work done,” said Pediatrician in Chief at UNC Children’s Hospital, Dr. Michael Steiner, MD, MPH. “Over the past year, UNC Children’s physicians have provided virtual care to the delivery room at UNC Health Lenoir hospital in Kinston, to children in the ED at Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, and we continue to provide outpatient specialty care access in the Sandhills region.”
The partnership began in 2021 and aims to serve areas that are a considerable distance from the Research Triangle. With CarolinaLink’s support, pediatrician offices in rural areas throughout the state are equipped with essential infrastructure able to connect patients remotely with UNC Children’s providers to receive top-rated specialty care.
“CarolinaLink is proud to be in the fifth year of our ten-year partnership with UNC Children’s Hospital, working to strengthen virtual collaboration between rural pediatricians and top-tier specialists,” said Donna Bullard, CEO of Star Communications. “The progress we’ve seen—and the difference it has made for families—reinforces our commitment to this mission.”
CarolinaLink is comprised of North Carolina’s seven broadband cooperatives – FOCUS Broadband, Randolph Communications, RiverStreet Networks, Star Communications, SkyLine/SkyBest, Surry Communications and Zirrus. Together, the cooperatives serve over 70 counties in North Carolina, many of which are in the state’s most rural areas. For more information about CarolinaLink and their members, visit www.carolinalink.org.