Massachusetts "telenursing center"

BOSTON, Mass. (AP) - Massachusetts is creating a new "telenursing center" designed to help doctors, nurses and hospitals across the country better respond to the needs of sexual assault victims.

Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray said Tuesday that the state has received $3.3 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Justice to create the Massachusetts Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Telenursing Center.

The center will dispense 24-hour medical assistance and consultation for health care providers that don't routinely provide sexual assault treatment services.

The center will be located at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and will initially connect with health care providers who work with selected populations in pilot locations around the country.

The grant money will help pay for information technology equipment, clinical staffing, education and technical assistance, and ongoing evaluation of the pilot program.