On October 2, the SCTRC team collaborated with the St. Mary's Regional Health System team for a day of learning!

As a part of the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) program “Building a Multi-Site Digital Health Network” with UAMS Institute for Digital Health and Innovation, the SCTRC team visited the St. Mary’s Regional Health System in Russellville, Arkansas. Here, our team worked with St. Mary’s to educate a group of sixteen international USTTI Scholars about a variety of areas in Telehealth and Telemedicine!

This course, sponsored by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Digital Health & Innovation, provided a comprehensive overview for designing, developing, and delivering educational and clinical services using Digital Health technology. The course was designed for individuals who are at the initial stages of networking health care professionals together for better continuing education and for better patient services. The program focused on the development of partnerships between medical centers and local health care providers, selection of appropriate technologies, technical operation, educational programming, and marketing clinical services.

During the visit, the USTTI Scholars toured the St. Mary’s facility to experience a wide variety of telehealth programs and uses, to better understand how a rural hospital communicates and cooperates with a urban hospital, and to see the different ways St. Mary’s specifically uses telemedicine! Upon arriving to St. Mary’s, the Scholars were greeted by hosts Tim Tanner, BSN, RN and Katye Jones, RN. We were even fortunate enough to be join by representatives from Senator Boozman and Conrgessman Bruce Westerman’s offices!

After a quick welcome and introductions, we were lead on a tour of the St. Mary’s facility. The Scholars were able to view the St. Mary’s Emergency Department and test essential telehealth equipment. One piece that was particularly exciting for this group of international Scholars were the telecarts used for interpretation services, many of them expressing how helpful it could be for them to overcome communication barriers in their own communities. After then touring the St. Mary’s radiology, ICU, nursery, and MED surge departments, all areas where they utilize telemedicine, we enjoyed lunch courtesy of the St. Mary’s team.

The most thrilling part of the day for our Scholars, and arguably our own team members too, was the live, mock-stroke demonstration where our hosts Tim and Katye played provider and patient. Here, Tim (acting as the provider) walked through exactly what would happen if Katye (acting as the patient) were brought in with symptoms of a stroke and how he would use a Telehealth cart to diagnose, treat, and save Katye’s life. The Scholars all echoed resounding excitement about seeing these technology used in-person! The rest of the visit was spent with St. Mary’s and IDHI team answering all the questions the Scholars had following this demonstration.

Partnering with the team at St. Mary’s Regional Health System was an amazing opportunity that we hope to repeat! Their skills, expertise, and knowledge was profound and wonderful to experience. We offer our sincere appreciation to them!

For more information or questions about this visit, please contact Lizzie Casteel at ecasteel@uams.edu.