New Health Care Network Paves Way for Economic Development

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1 RELEASE DATE: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 Contact Tom Reid Reid Consulting Group LLC New Health Care Network Paves Way for Economic Development Area Communities to Benefit with New Broadband Opportunities CHILLICOTHE, OH (June 10, 2009) - The Southern Ohio Health Care Network (SOHCN) announced today the award of an $18 million FCC-funded contract to Horizon Telcom for construction of a state-of-the-art fiber optic network across thirteen counties in southern Ohio. The project will connect 120+ health care facilities, large and small, to a robust fiber optic network. The connectivity will allow area providers to participate in telemedicine initiatives, progressive community health record projects and the regional health information organization. Likewise, use of the network will enhance sustainability of rural medical practices, develop deeper collaboration among healthcare providers and enhance emergency communications. The same metropolitan-class broadband services will become available to businesses, educational sites and government offices in the area. Discounted rates will also support Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs), improving the pace of broadband deployment in the rural expanse. This contract represents Phase 1 of a plan called Connecting Appalachia that will extend the same broadband benefits across all 34 rural counties of the 17,000 square mile SOHCN service area in southern and eastern Ohio. Buoyed by the unwavering support of US Congressman Zack Space (OH-18), the Southern Ohio Health Care Network has partnered with Governor Ted Strickland, Appalachian Local Development Districts, and the region s civic, education and business leaders to deliver broadband services and the promise of prosperity they hold across the region. Despite competitive availability in the rest of Ohio, between 62 percent and 74 percent of the SOHCN s 34-county area has no access to broadband, making the already difficult task of rural economic development even more challenging. Small business innovation, telemedicine and distance learning opportunities remain out of reach for a region that includes the state s 10 poorest counties and

2 all of Appalachia Ohio s at-risk and distressed counties. Connecting Appalachia will level the playing field for the region to compete in the global economy. Since being elected to Congress in 2007, Rep. Space has spearheaded efforts to bring advanced broadband to areas of rural Ohio that are currently unserved or underserved. In fact, he placed broadband at the center of his economic development plan, RENEW Ohio-18, that will support economic opportunities for healthcare, education, economic development and public safety. This is a substantial step in laying the groundwork for my Connecting Appalachia effort to bring broadband access to the rural expanses of southern and eastern Ohio, said Congressman Space. I am proud to have played a role in obtaining the funding for this vital project, and excited about the opportunity it represents to better the lives of my constituents. Adena Health System in Chillicothe takes seriously its significant role as a health care provider with the Southern Ohio Health Care Network (SOHCN). Adena, along with O Bleness Health System in Athens, and Holzer Health Systems in Gallipolis, joined together to form the SOHCN in Their creation supports the initiative to bring greater health care access to southern Ohio s Appalachian counties. We certainly feel our significant role with the SOHCN and the advancement of broadband access to our local communities and region is an important initiative for this area, stated Marcus Bost, Chief Information Officer at Adena Health System. Adena is deeply involved with telemedicine projects intended to enhance the services we provide to our regional sites and clinics in outlying areas. These advancements provide physicians and healthcare providers with the tools needed to conduct consultations and view radiology, laboratory, and other diagnostic tests from one site to another. Regional broadband access is certainly a huge component that makes this level of medicine possible. With the development of the SOHCN, this type of advanced healthcare will soon be available for counties that in the past didn t have the resources or availability to support, Bost commented. With the growing need for broadband and for healthcare today, and with the level of services that are required at our outlying sites and clinics, we felt that being a partner in the SOHCN was a great opportunity for Holzer Health Systems and the communities of Gallia, Jackson and Meigs Counties, said Tom Tope, President and CEO of Holzer Health Systems. With the Rural Healthcare Pilot Program grant that was received, we will be able to provide advanced telemedicine services such as HD videoconferencing with other health care facilities nationwide, provide a full electronic medical record to every Holzer Health System site, and provide future growth of our picture archiving communications system (PACS) for our radiology departments. We feel that

3 Holzer has provided, and will continue to provide, outstanding health care and this partnership with the SOHCN will allow us to maintain this level, Tope added. Horizon Telcom, a Chillicothe-based broadband provider with a presence in eight southern Ohio counties, was selected by SOHCN to build the network through a competitive bidding process. Horizon will construct and operate the new 500-plus mile fiber system. Approximately 200 miles of the network already exists and are used to interconnect Adena Health System in Ross County and Southern Ohio Medical Center in Scioto County. Once complete, the network will serve communities in Adams, Athens, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties. We're excited to have this opportunity to extend our advanced fiber optic network into more counties and many more communities in southern Ohio, said Bill McKell, Horizon CEO. We believe this will ensure that the benefits of nextgeneration data services are available not only to the members of the health care network, but to local businesses and, eventually, residents as well." Work on this Phase 1 of the new health care network is expected to be completed in ### About SOHCN The Southern Ohio Health Care Network is a consortium of health care providers serving a population of two million across 34 rural counties. It covers 17,000 square miles of southeast Ohio. The SOHCN was formed in 2007 through the collaboration of Adena Health System in Chillicothe, O Bleness Health System in Athens and Holzer Health Systems in Gallipolis, as an effort to bring greater health care access to southern Ohio s Appalachian counties. The SOHCN service area includes the ten poorest counties in Ohio and all counties designated "distressed" and "at-risk" by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Federal health care designations blanketing the SOHCN region include Health Professional Shortage Areas, a dozen Critical Access Hospitals, and over 40 Federally Qualified Health Centers. For more information, visit the SOHCN s website at About Horizon - With corporate offices in Chillicothe, Ohio, Horizon Telcom is a leading broadband provider of advanced data services in eight southern Ohio counties. Utilizing its nearly 475-mile network of fiber optic cable, Horizon delivers reliable phone, digital cable TV, high-speed Internet, home and business security and monitoring to its residential and business customers. Horizon s entrepreneurial heritage and long-standing commitment to remarkable customer care ensures its devotion to connecting the people and businesses of southern Ohio to their worlds through the delivery of cutting-edge broadband technology and proven telecommunication systems. For more information about Horizon, visit the company s website at

4 About Adena Health System - Adena Health System is an independent, not-forprofit and locally controlled organization serving the needs of 10 counties in south central Ohio and employing more than 2,000 people. Adena s vision is to be the best health care system in the nation through innovation and a customer centered philosophy. The system s family of facilities includes Adena Medical Center, Adena Greenfield Medical Center, and Adena Health Centers in Chillicothe, Jackson and Waverly. Adena was founded in 1895 by area churches as the Chillicothe Hospital. For more information, log on to Communities Hosting Phase 1 SOHCN Health Care Facilities Albany Athens Bidwell Chillicothe Circleville Coolville Gallipolis Greenfield Hillsboro Ironton Jackson Lucasville Lynchburg McArthur Nelsonville Oakhill Piketon Pomeroy Portsmouth Proctorville Racine Rio Grande Seaman South Point The Plains Washington CH Waverly West Union Winchester Name of Health Care Organizations in Phase 1 Counties Adams Brown Counties Economic Opportunities Holzer Clinic Adams County Health Department Holzer Consolidated Health System Adams County Regional Medical Center Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Adena Health System Jackson County Health Department Athens County Health Department Jackson-Vinton Community Action, Inc. Berger Health System Lawrence County Health Department CAC of Pike County Meigs County Health Department Community Action of Scioto County O'Bleness Health System Doctor's Hospital of Nelsonville Pike Community Hospital Family Addiction Community Treatment Services Pike County General Health District Family Healthcare, Inc. Ross County Health District Fayette County Combined Health District Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center Fayette County Memorial Hospital Shawnee Mental Health Center, Inc. Health Recovery Services Southern Ohio Medical Center HealthSource of Ohio The Counseling Center, Inc. Highland County Community Action Organization Tri-County Mental Health and Counseling Services Highland County Health Department Vinton County Health Department Highland District Hospital Woodland Centers

5 Network Diagram SOHCN Fiber-Optic Backbone Service Area Map Connecting Appalachia 34-County Area Phase 1 13-County Area

6 Picture of Zack Space Connecting Appalachia Partners Funding already from: ARC Local Development Districts Health Care Anchors (to Date) K-12 Information Technology Centers Higher Education Plus 200+ health care facilities in the Southern Ohio Health Care Network Other Statewide Groups Consortium still being built Commercial Partners (to Date)