Raleigh, NC – ATMC, a member of CarolinaLink, the North Carolina Broadband Cooperative Coalition, announced a $500,000 commitment and ten-year partnership with UNC Children’s Hospital to support rural virtual health programs across the state. The gift from CarolinaLink will allow UNC Children’s to develop a telemedicine program that will connect children in rural areas across North Carolina with specialty providers at UNC Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill.

Keith Holden, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer for ATMC, commented on the gift stating, “ATMC is proud to partner with our CarolinaLink members and UNC Health Children’s Hospital to create a new telehealth initiative that will connect children and their families in rural areas throughout North Carolina to world-class health services.”

UNC Children’s has already begun forging partnerships with other health systems and pediatric offices in communities across the state to launch the telehealth programs. Locations will be selected in areas where it is more difficult to travel to the Triangle for pediatric specialty services. “By partnering with rural pediatric clinics and other rural care providers, we’ll be able to bring specialty care closer to home for these children and their families,” said Michael Steiner, MD, MPH, Pediatrician in Chief at UNC Children’s Hospital. “We are grateful for the commitment and support from CarolinaLink and we are excited to launch this new telehealth program.”

The Chancellor at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, also thanked CarolinaLink stating, “The ability to provide the best care to more families will have such a positive impact on the health and wellness of children in North Carolina. I look forward to seeing the great things that come of this new program.”

CarolinaLink is made up of North Carolina’s seven broadband membership cooperatives who provide advanced technology services to many of the state’s most rural areas. The seven members include ATMC, Randolph Communications, RiverStreet Networks, Skyline/Skybest, Star Communications, Surry Communications and Yadtel.

For more information about the UNC Children’s Outreach Initiative Fund, visit www.unchealthfoundation.org. To learn more about CarolinaLink and their members, visit www.carolinalink.org.