Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania State University Telehealth
Type of Grant: TOP
Amount of Grant: $603,610
Non-Federal Support: 668,972
Date of Grant: October 1997-June 2000
Project Partner: Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia
More than 200,000 adults in the Philadelphia, PA metropolitan area suffer from diabetes. Despite the fact that there is an increasing use of telecommunications technology in health care, its use in home care, the fastest growing sector of the health care industry, has lagged behind. With a TOP grant, Penn State, in conjunction with the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia, developed a telehealth project using technology to deliver video, voice, and data technology over standard telephone lines to connect nurses' stations to patients' homes.
Patients feel that the program has been very positive and that using the technology has helped them to better monitor their health. It also has the added benefit of teaching adults and senior citizens technology skills; the program demonstrates that even very frail and elderly patients can use the equipment effectively.
The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia continues to use the technology implemented by the TOP grant to monitor the status of patients with diabetes and has now created a program specifically for patients with congestive heart failure.
Pennsylvania
Career CybercafZ
Type of Grant: CTC
Amount of Grant: $510,853
Non-Federal Support: $406,797
Date of Grant: 1999-2002
Project Partner: Capital Area Intermediate Unit
Contact: Jawal Boyd
Phone: (717) 772-0640
Email: jboyd@caiu.org
With the help of a CTC grant, the Career CybercafZ has expanded from a single computer center in a local career center serving the unemployed to 4 centers serving youth, seniors and those seeking jobs. The project provides users with a wide range of opportunities from introductory computer courses to projects in local history and graphic design. The youth programs focus on encouraging students to expand their computer and Internet use beyond surfing the web by introducing them to the artistic possibilities available through technology.
Darlene Simmons, a senior citizen who had never used a computer prior to coming to the CybercafZ, was amazed by the world that was opened up to her through the Internet. The experience has been especially rewarding because it allows her to email her daughter and son-in-law who are living in Germany. Without access to technology, communicating with them would be very difficult because she cannot afford to call, and mail has been very slow post-September 11th.
The CybercafZs offer a wide range of programs to participants, including art technology classes, oral history projects, and basic computer and job readiness courses. The program hopes to expand by partnering with local businesses to offer entrepreneurial opportunities that will enable students to see the real world applications of the lessons they learn at the CybercafZ.
