North Carolina Health Technology and Telehealth Initiatives

North Carolina has emerged as a leader in the implementation of telecommunications technology designed to support the delivery of health services. Many are structured to improve access to health care for the residents of rural areas. Of primary importance is the state's implementation of the North Carolina Information Highway, an upgraded telecommunications system. This system provides the infrastructure to support activities such as the electronic birth certificate system, composite matched birth records, death certificate data, central cancer registry, North Carolina Immunization Registry, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, and Health Services Information System. The authors present detailed program descriptions of each of these innovative programs, and effectively demonstrate how telecommunications technology can organize and centralize important health statistical information so that health services can be better targeted and designed to meet special population needs. Important lessons can be gleaned from the North Carolina experience for all states and health care professionals who want to expand access to quality health care services.