In this edition of “Telehealth Update from the Road,” the LearnTelehealth|South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC) outreach staff had the opportunity to see major growth in the use of telehealth throughout the state this month.
Tele-Cardiology
A new pilot tele-cardiology clinic kicked-off last week. Boston Mountain Rural Health Center in Marshall, AR and Mainline Health Systems-Eudora now offer cardiology specialty services via telemedicine by Arkansas Cardiology and Dr. Randy Minton. The first patient was seen with success and satisfaction. What a way to bridge the gap in specialty care here in Arkansas!
Arkansas Aging Initiative
The Arkansas Aging Initiative program’s Center’s on Aging held their first education event using equipment provided by Arkansas e-Link and offered the program statewide over the Arkansas e-Link Network. SCTRC Outreach staff was there to help facilitate and support this event.
The event was hosted by The Oaklawn Senior Health Care Center in Hot Springs and coordinated with South Arkansas Center on Aging in El Dorado. Angela Simmons, APN with the Arkansas Heart Hospital was the guest speaker and the topic was Congestive Heart Failure.
The Centers on Aging decided to offer more geriatric education for utilizing the e-Link network to reach more clinicians around the state. “We feel like we can reach more people utilizing the technology, we are planning on offering quarterly education events across the state to give clinicians and care givers better access to evidenced based health care solutions.” said Kathy Packard, Director of the Oaklawn Senior Health Care Center.
The hour long program had over 50 participants joined together from 12 different communities via video teleconferencing. Participants could interact directly with the guest speaker and ask questions during the live presentation. Participants were also able to receive continuing education credits.
Behavioral Health
Our Outreach team also exhibited at the 41st Annual Behavioral Health Institute in Hot Springs, AR. This event is sponsored by the Mental Health Council of Arkansas (MHCA). The MHCA is dedicated to improving the overall health and well-being of all Arkansans and communities throughout Arkansas. With over 50 psychiatrists and 2,000 health care professionals, participating members of the MHCA provide comprehensive services specially designed to meet the individual behavioral healthcare needs of Arkansas’ citizens. The SCTRC provides telehealth training and support to all of the sites represented at this event.
Dr. Claudia Beverly, UAMS Center on Aging, Tamara Perry, South Central Telehealth Resource Center, Kathy Packard, Director of the Oaklawn Center on Aging
Tamara Gordon of the Oaklawn Center on Aging gives Tamara Perry with the South Central Telehealth Resource Center a tour of the new Facility
41st Annual Behavioral Health Institute Conference in Hot Springs, AR
Our booth at the 41st Annual Behavioral Health Institute Conference in Hot Springs, AR
