The statewide Georgia Telemedicine Program began in 2005 through a generous grant from WellPoint, Inc. Negotiations with Commissioner Oxendine for Anthem and WellPoint Merger resulted in the Commissioner Oxendine’s Rural Health Initiative and $100 million over the next 20 years in rural capital bonds and $11.5 Million over 3 years for a Statewide Telemedicine Program. The Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth, Inc. was formed in 2008 to continue the successes of the telemedicine program after Wellpoints 3 year commitment.

The Georgia Telemedicine Program was built based on advances in the continually evolving telecommunications and computer industries, and on successes and lessons learned from other Telemedicine programs. The hallmark of Georgia Telemedicine is the Open Access Network, which is a web of statewide access points based on strategic partnerships with successful existing Telemedicine programs, and the creation of new Telemedicine locations, to maximize opportunities for timely specialty services. When fully realized, the Program will enable all rural Georgians to access specialty care within 30 miles of their homes. Because there are so few specialist physicians in Georgia, the Telemedicine program implemented the Internal Program Collaboration Website to centralize scheduling of specialist consultations. By tracking open appointment times for panel specialists anywhere in the state, specialist consults via Telemedicine can now be requested 24 hours a day, and scheduled statewide in a matter of days or even hours, instead of weeks or months.

Mission Statement

Georgia Partnership for Telehealth, Inc. is a charitable nonprofit corporation which was formed to promote improvements in healthcare and healthcare facilities in rural and underserved communities throughout the state of Georgia by assisting in the establishment of Telemedicine Programs. Our mission is to:

• Improve and promote the availability and provision of specialized healthcare services in rural and underserved parts of Georgia.

• Educate and provide training and technical assistance to hospitals, clinics and primary care providers to implement and achieve exchange of health information.

• Reduce the service barriers that exist for patients who live in rural parts of Georgia at a distance from hospitals and other medical facilities.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors are listed below. These members shall serve for a term of three (3) years.

Dr. James Story Archbold Medical Center Thomadville, GA GPT Chairman

Dr. Debra Lister Coffee Regional Medical Center Douglas, GA

Dr. David Flannery Medical College of Georgia Augusta, GA

Dr. Jack Chapman Gainesville Eye Associates Gainesville, GA

Jimmy Lewis CEO Hometown Health Cumming, GA GPT Secretary/Treasurer

Paula Guy Executive Director Georgia Partnership for Telehealth, Inc.