Tele-Health- Transforming Care Through Interfacing

What is Tele-medicine?

I am very proud to highlight Rochester General Hospital (RGH) when it comes to utilizing technology interfacing to achieve better patient outcomes and accessibility. In 2008, The program was started using video conferencing where patients are able to interface with the provider/specialist they need consulting from (Nelson & Staggers, 2014). Rochester General Hospital is part of Rochester Regional Health System which is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). Currently Newark Wayne Community Hospital and United Memorial Hospital in Batavia utilize tele-medicine. Intensivists located at RGH interface with patients in the ICU at the rural hospitals to review care with Nurse, Doctor, patient, and families to make sure the best care is being provided. If you have ever worked in a rural setting, you can appreciate how overwhelming it is to drive to a big city to receive a specialty consult. Newark Wayne has a tele-medicine department that schedules patients as an out-patient to either follow up or perform initial consults. Patients in these setting are more apt to keep these appointments. The future of healthcare will be an increased need for accessibility to care. This is one proven way to do just that.


Tele-Health


Ohio passed a bill where The Centers for Medicare/Medicaid  would be required to cover tele-health. They were hesitant to cover this emerging technology but it is the wave of the future and much needed as resources are limited (Fraley, 2014). As Nurse Leaders, this is where we come in to push for legislation like this that helps support our communities and their health.

    This video amazes me and is the future. It personally touches me because my father suffered a stroke two summers ago and luckily his symptoms were identified early and he was able to receive TPA and had little residual. Not everyone is so fortunate. This emerging field will help those who should not have to suffer their lack of resources based on where they live.

References

Nelson, R. & Staggers, N. (2014) Health Informatics: An Interprofessional Approach. 

     Elsevier:St.Louis, Missouri

Fraley, A. (2014). Telehealth Service: Health Care from Afar. Ohio Nurses Review, 89(6), 8.