SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network (RNHN) will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of its new $19M fiber optic medical network, which extends throughout the Nebraska panhandle. The ceremony will be held Wednesday, July 18 at 11 a.m. in the Tranquility Garden at the Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Neb.

Governor Dave Heineman will open the ceremony, welcoming members of the Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network board of directors and representatives of participating panhandle hospitals and clinics.

Construction of the 750-mile fiber optic network began two years ago. It spans 12 western Nebraska counties, connects nine primary care hospitals and dozens of affiliated health care clinics in western Nebraska. In addition, it provides connection to national research networks such as National Lambda Rail and Internet 2 in Denver, Colo.

The network will eventually enable additional telecommunications products and services that will help sustain it and further advance underserved rural Nebraska communities.

The project was made possible with funding from the Rural Healthcare Pilot Program of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in conjunction with additional funding from Zayo Group and the support of Regional West Foundation, Fiberutilities Group and G4S Technology LLC (formerly Adesta).

“This is one of the most sophisticated medical technology networks in Nebraska,” said Todd Sorensen, MD, MS, President and CEO of Regional West Health Services. “It will allow us to utilize advanced medical technologies, which will vastly improve both patient care and physician communication.”

The Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network (RNHN), a not-for-profit consortium including: Box Butte General Hospital, Alliance; Chadron Community Hospital, Chadron Garden County Health Services, Oshkosh; Gordon Memorial Hospital, Gordon; Kimball Health Services, Kimball; Memorial Health Center, Sidney; Morrill County Community Hospital, Bridgeport; Perkins County Health Services, Grant; Regional West Medical Center, Scottsbluff. The RNHN’s mission is A Regional System of Care Provided Locally. Since 1996, RNHN members have achieved a unique collaborative effort in order to coordinate a unified healthcare system that serves all people in western Nebraska.