CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia – April 30, 2013 – Cisco today announced the University of Virginia (UVA) Center for Telehealth as the first member of the Cisco Healthcare Center of Excellence program. Designed to foster collaboration by recognizing institutions that are highly-effective in using network-based technologies and solutions to modernize health care, the Cisco Healthcare Center of Excellence program aims to stimulate innovation by aligning health IT investments with clinical and business processes to extend access, improve outcomes and reduce costs.

As a multidisciplinary center supporting UVA's missions of clinical care, teaching, research innovation, and public service, UVA Center for Telehealth was chosen as a Cisco Healthcare Center of Excellence for its commitment to connecting clinicians and specialists from the Academic Medical Center with patients in need. This has been accomplished by establishing a 108-site telehealth network in the Commonwealth of Virginia that, to date, has enabled more than 30,000 patient encounters across more than 40 specialties. By providing this connected consultation, patients have been spared more than 8 million miles of travel for access to health care.

Currently, UVA deploys a broad range of Cisco® video and collaboration solutions, including Cisco Jabber™. The use of these technologies has aided health care professionals to quickly reach patients in need of obstetric and post-acute care, chronic disease management, and telemental health care. In addition, the use of Cisco video collaboration technologies have allowed the center to support thousands of hours of distance learning for patients and health care professionals.

The Cisco Healthcare Center for Excellence program is an opportunity for Cisco customers to be recognized for their outstanding work in the field of health care. Honorees will gain opportunities to foster partnerships and collaboration, as well as other benefits. 

Supporting Quotes:

Linda Boles, chief strategist, US Public Sector Healthcare Innovation, Cisco

"The Cisco Healthcare Center of Excellence program is an important part of our strategy in the way we serve our customers and partners. We are pleased to work with University of Virginia Center for Telehealth in showcasing its contributions to the health care industry."

Karen Rheuban, M.D., director, University of Virginia Center for Telehealth

"At the UVA Health System, we know the acute importance of access to health care and health education. Telehealth technology is a critically important tool to help enable our patients and our colleagues in health care get the care and information they need."

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