The future of healthcare delivery involves telemedicine and Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) is training students for that very future with its Telehealth Technician Program.

Due to improvements in technology and broadband internet services across the state, the use of telemedicine is in high demand.

The program is completed in one semester and contains 16 college credit hours. Graduates earn certificates in Telehealth Technician, Healthcare Foundations, and Nurse Aide, under the instruction of Program Coordinator Shaun Neace. The program graduated its first class in July 2017.

This program was made possible through a Kentucky Appalachian Regional Development (KARD) grant funded by Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR). The $250,000 seed money provided HCTC with the means to purchase basic equipment, hire faculty, and develop curriculum.