Text Box: Teleconferencing

Training Grant

Final Report -- December 29, 2008

 

The Teleconferencing Training grant awarded by the Alliance of Champion Communities has developed into a far more significant project than was originally envisioned.  Within days of receiving word that the Alliance grant would be received, Mountain Hospice received an award through the Neighborhood Investment Program that has allowed us to move directly to set aside the concept of teleconferencing in favor of the far more effective medium of videoconferencing.

 

          With the funds from these two sources, we have ordered and are in the process of installing equipment in five locations:  four offices in Elkins, Belington, Marlinton, and Davis, plus the cooperating agency in Mineral County — Heartland Nursing Home.  These locations represent five of the counties served by Mountain Hospice.  Equipment will eventually be added at locations in Grant and Pendleton Counties.

 

          Actual use of the equipment is scheduled to begin soon after the first of the year, at which time staff from all seven counties will find time and mileage required for meetings greatly reduced -- no longer having to come all the way to Belington. Staff members in Grant and Pendleton Counties will also benefit, for they will be able to join meetings in neighboring counties,

 

Another major benefit will be realized in access to programming from sites other than the primary Mountain Hospice sources.  For example, videoconferences will be available through the West Virginia Network of Ethics Committees and the West Virginia End-of-Life Center in Morgantown, and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in Washington.

 

The only obstacle realized in the process of implementing these plans was the delay necessary between the ordering and the delivery of the equipment.  Obviously, this was a large undertaking with engineering complexities.  Our supplier, The Digital Soup, LLC, has taken every precaution to be sure that the equipment and its installation are optimal and the cost to us minimal.

 

          There will, of course, be a monthly charge for the videoconferencing services, but this expense will be more than offset by reduction of travel costs.  Even more important, however, is the fact that this technology will free staff to spend more time with patients.

                            

          We are delighted and deeply grateful that through the leveraging of funds and the collaboration of the Alliance of Champion Communities and the Neighborhood Investment Program, we have reached a goal which we had originally thought of as out of our reach.  

 

          Perhaps the most important result of this project is the renewed and reinforced realization that collaboration is not only possible, but highly beneficial to all parties involved. 

 

 

Financial Report

 

Budgeted Expenses                         Anticipated Expenses                Differences

 

Teleconference Equip.  $5,299.93      Video Equip.    $11,474.37          $ 6,174.44

 

Sources                                        In-Kind Investments                 Grants

 

Space utilization, 30 hrs. @ $30                                $ 900.00

Personnel, labor,  20 hrs. @ $30                                  600.00

Basic telephone line                                                   600.00

Monthly charge for videoconferencing, 2009                3,000.00

General operating budget as needed                  

Alliance grant                                                                                5,000.00

Neighborhood Investment Program                                                   6,174.44

 

 

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Videoconferencing Aids Mountain Hospice, Inc.

 

          Shannon Gear, Director of Development for Mountain Hospice has announced the recent installation of videoconferencing equipment at organization offices in Randolph, Barbour, Pocahontas, Pendleton, and Tucker Counties.  Debbie Cooper, Information Systems Manager, sent out bids worked with The Digital Soup company on the design and specifications of the system.

 

          This project, funded by grants from the West Virginia Alliance of Champion Communities and by the Neighborhood Investment Program, will be of great benefit to Mountain Hospice and its patient families.  Because meetings and other conferences will be televised in the offices, staff members will no longer have to travel to and from the main office in Belington.  The time saved will then be available for direct patient and family care. 

 

          Any questions concerning this project or any other hospice matters can be addressed to hospice staff at any of the offices:  Belington (Barbour County) 823-3922, Elkins (Randolph County) 636-0090, Davis (Tucker County) 259-2273, Franklin (Pendleton County) 358-3585, Marlinton (Pocahontas County) 799-2673.  Or use the Mountain Hospice toll-free number--1-888-763-7789.