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Merit Network to Support Vendors in Michigan’s Rural Health Care Pilot Project

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January 6, 2010

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Merit Network, Inc. announced today that it will offer comprehensive support to organizations submitting proposals for the Michigan Public Health Institute’s (MPHI) Rural Health Care Pilot Project (RHCPP).

The Pilot Project calls for proposals to construct and operate a state-wide network for exclusive health care use, linking as many as 521 public hospitals, primary care clinics and other health care providers in predominately non-metropolitan areas across the state and in both peninsulas. This will improve the quality of care in these areas while at the same time saving substantial travel expense.

“Merit Network has served the Michigan community for over 40 years,” said Don Welch, president and CEO of Merit Network. “We are dedicated to building a collaborative community in which resources can be shared for the benefit of the greater good.”

“Given the resources we can offer an applicant, Merit Network believes that the interests of Michigan’s citizens and health care providers will be best served if Merit maintains a supporting role in the Rural Health Care Pilot Project,” he said.

Merit Network’s support of proposals will include transport over their 1600-mile backbone infrastructure, as well as any infrastructure Merit may build during the course of the Pilot Project. Merit will offer engineering and operational services as desired from lead applicants. Additionally, Merit will provide the rural health care network with a connection to the Internet2 network.

As Michigan’s Internet2 connector, Merit is in the unique position to ensure that Michigan’s health care network will connect to other state-wide health care networks spanning the country, creating a robust national health care infrastructure that will satisfy America’s quickly-evolving health care needs.

The accessibility and sharing of digital health records, telehealth and telemedicine applications availed through health care networks like the network to be constructed as part of Michigan’s RHCPP will improve the quality of life for all residents.

“Improved telehealth and telemedicine are vital to the future well-being of Michigan’s citizens,” said Welch. “Merit is eager to offer support to ensure that MPHI will have a stronger set of proposals and thus the best chance at improving telehealth and telemedicine in rural Michigan.”

About Merit Network

Merit Network Inc., is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained at the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking and IT solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations.

For more information: www.merit.edu

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