The Birmingham Veterans Administration and Cullman County Health Department held a ribbon cutting Tuesday for a new telehealth program.

The Alabama Public Health Telehealth Network allows veterans to go to the Cullman County Health Department and connect remotely for a visit with their provider in Birmingham, using a secure audio-video internet connection. 

“As you know, the veterans give so much of their lives to protect us and this country and have done through the ages,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt. “One of the commitments that we make to them is that we are going to provide healthcare.”

Not only will this cut down on the vet’s travel, but it will allow them to see a doctor quickly.

“They risk their lives on a day-to-day basis, those that are serving and those who have served, and this is a way for us to try to make sure we help our veterans,” said Aderholt.

Services include education on diabetes, counseling for mental health and genetic clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment.

The carts are equipped with an HD video camera and codes, a computer with two 24″ monitors, a bluetooth stethoscope and a handheld examination camera with three lenses.

“Providing facilities like this, especially in rural Alabama, there are so many parts of the state Alabama where veterans are still living in rural areas,” said Aderholt. “And as you know, they don’t have access to drive 10 minutes down the road and get access to a health clinic.”

All sessions are HIPAA compliant and encrypted.

Counties with active telehealth clinics at county health departments include: Baldwin, Calhoun, Chilton, Clay, Colbert, Conecuh, Covington, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Escambia, Henry, Houston, Lauderdale, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Mobile, Montgomery, Perry, Pike, Russell, Shelby, Talladega, Tuscaloosa and Russell.

Counties with telehealth clinics at county health departments by June 2018: Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Chambers, Cherokee, Choctaw, Clarke, Cleburne, Coffee, Crenshaw, Dale, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Lamar, Lawrence, Lee, Lowndes, Marion, Marshall, Monroe, Morgan, Pickens, Randolph, St. Clair, Sumter, Tallapoosa, Washington, Wilcox and Winston.