Who Is TAO?


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Our Mission
To advance telehealth knowledge, practice and policy in Oregon
Our Vision
Access to affordable quality healthcare for all Oregonians
TAO's History
- Oregon SB 622 in 1999 that created six large interconnected fiber rings throughout the state;
- Oregon SB 24 in 2009 that required private payers to reimburse for telemedicine; and
- Oregon SB 144 in 2015 that required service parity for private providers and eliminated the originating site requirement.
In 2009 TAO submitted a successful application to the FCC and received $221 million for the development of the Oregon Health Network.
TAO has held an annual conference from 2005 to 2019. In 2020 TAO partnered with Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center for a conference in Portland, but due to COVID-19 ended up offering the conference virtually. In 2021 TAO will again partner with the NRTRC to present a virtual conference. TAO continues to develop and expand its partnership with NRTRC.
TAO also partners with the Oregon Office of Rural Health to help advance telehealth in rural areas.
TAO continues to provide telehealth information to anyone that requests it both by providing information directly and by sharing resources that can provide the needed information.
TAO is governed by a volunteer board and currently has no paid staff.
TAO’s Goals

Access

Collaboration

Information

Technical Assistance
Board of Directors & Staff
TAO Board of Directors is made up of volunteers elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting and Summit. The Board must consist of no fewer than five (5) and no more than fifteen (15) members. To be a Board member a candidate or his organization must be member of TAO for a least a year. Board members serve 3 year terms, and can run for re-election at the end of their terms. TAO’s Board is served by two volunteer staff members –Catherine Britain, Executive Director, and Jo Bell, Finance Officer.

Jeff Caulley, TAO Chairperson

Mark Lovgren, TAO Vice-Chairperson

Robin Lawson, TAO Secretary/Treasurer
Robin Lawson is the owner and President of Passport To Languages, Inc. PTL provides on-site interpretation, video interpretation, telephone interpretation, and written translations and transcriptions in over 200 languages and dialects.She has been a board member of TAO for many years and enjoys helping to bring our world closer together.

Frank Krause

Rose Locklear

Thanh Nguyen

Bob Power

Chris Tamarin

Lori Wakashige

Jenni Word

Catherine Britain, Executive Director
Catherine owns CSBritain Consulting. She provides planning and implementation support to organizations and communities who want to build or expand telehealth programs. Additionally she offers telehealth policy support and development to providers and associations. Catherine serves on the board for the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center, an organization that provides technical assistance and support to new and existing telehealth programs in seven states. Previously she was the program director for RODEO Net, a telemental health program based in La Grande, Oregon, one of the first in the nation. Catherine has been active in the Association of Telehealth Service Providers, the American Telemedicine Association, the Board of the National Association for Rural Mental Health, and the Oregon Telecommunications Coordinating Council. She is a co-founder and a past president of the TAO.

Jo Bell, Finance Director
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