Bill Clinton: “One of the things--you mentioned the area health education concept, which I think has really done wonders in rural…”

“One of the things--you mentioned the area health education concept, which I think has really done wonders in rural America, all over the country. But one of the things that we have tried to do in this plan which we haven't talked about this morning is to provide some funds for electronic hookups with really great access to technology so you can have almost instantaneous and continuous contact with medical centers around the country. I think it isn't quite like being there, but it will go a long way toward bridging the gap that exists now. [Dr. McRoberts described an electronic system which linked Montgomery Memorial Hospital to the University of North Carolina for instant consultation but was discontinued for lack of support. Dr. Tom Townsend, East Tennessee State Medical School, discussed training and emphasized that medical schools must be reoriented to the needs of rural communities.]”