The perfect storm is approaching. Telemedicine is on the brink of providing stroke patients across the country with sub-specialists who can help make life-saving decisions without even being in the same city much less in the same ER room.
AR SAVES (Stroke Assistance through Virtual Emergency Support) is reaching Arkansas patients daily. With the use of technology ER physicians can now have their colleagues from neurology consult at a moment’s notice. Through technology a patient can be seen by the consulting physician and a series of visual tests can be performed while reviewing radiology images simultaneously. This technology is improving care and diagnosis in a time when the healthcare landscape is in turmoil. (Here’s an article on what we’re facing.) There are:
- Not enough physicians
- Too little EMS coverage
- An increase of people taxing the system due to baby boomers living longer (among other things).
All this is happening while payments for these services continue to erode. Despite the system being in turmoil, Telemedicine is acting as a positive change agent.
The big question is can this work? The answer is YES. It is working – not just in Arkansas but across the country as well. As technology continues to move into virtual medicine – so brings the issue of accessing these programs and making sure they are available. It may not be that you do have telemedicine – the legal issue may be if you don’t! The storm is approaching … do you have your telemedicine umbrella?
Great post. I know how much hard work goes into making connections like this. I like the analogy of telemedicine technology bringing back the days of housecalls. Has the originating site taken any further steps to getting a clinic organized for patients like this?
yes this site has actually taken on the HROB clinic with ANGELS and we hope to develop a Family Practice tele-medicine clinic for other sub-specialty consults in the near future.