SCTRC Staff, Author at LearnTelehealth

From Rural Mississippi to Nationwide Impact: UMMC’s Telehealth Evolution

SCTRC Staff — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:31:10 +0000

In the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, telemedicine has emerged as a transformative force, bridging gaps in access to care and revolutionizing the delivery of medical services. At the forefront of this revolution stands the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), a pioneer in telehealth innovation for over a decade.

In 2017, UMMC’s dedication to excellence in telehealth was formally recognized when it was designated as one of only two federally designated Centers of Excellence in Telehealth (COE).

This prestigious designation by the Health Resources and Services Administration entrusted UMMC with a pivotal role in expanding our research capacity to benefit Mississippi and the United States. The center works to break down the silos and serve as a national clearinghouse for telehealth research, resources, and initiatives.

The COVID-19 pandemic has established telehealth as an essential part of healthcare service delivery. The UMMC Center for Telehealth’s response to the pandemic and vast experience in implementing and scaling a wide diversity of telehealth programs has uniquely positioned us as a national leader in helping grow the field of telehealth in the post-pandemic era.

Mississippi faces great challenges in rurality and healthcare disparities but has successfully leveraged the connections afforded by technology to improve the lives of citizens through telehealth programs.

Key Innovations in Telehealth

The UMMC Center for Telehealth has established multiple innovative programs that provide telehealth services to Mississippi’s medically underserved population that face a high prevalence of chronic diseases, high poverty rates, and lack of access to health care services.

TelEmergency. Starting with the first telehealth program, TelEmergency, in 2003, the Center for Telehealth has maintained a steadfast commitment to extending healthcare access to rural communities in Mississippi. It offers consultations to Emergency Departments (EDs) in critical access hospitals, facilitating timely and expert care delivery. Over the past five years, the program has notably grown from serving 11 sites to now encompassing 23 locations.
SCRMC Telehealth Program. Accessibility to quality medical services is paramount. Recognizing this need, South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC), a rural healthcare facility in Laurel, Mississippi, has taken proactive steps to enhance patient care through telehealth initiatives. SCRMC’s Telehealth Program aims to bridge geographical barriers and expand access to medical expertise, particularly in underserved areas. The program facilitates virtual consultations, remote monitoring, and telemedicine appointments by leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure patients receive timely and personalized care regardless of location. One of the key aspects of SCRMC’s Telehealth Program is its commitment to promoting community engagement and education. Through outreach efforts and informative sessions, SCRMC strives to raise awareness about the benefits of telehealth and empower individuals to take charge of their health.
TeleCritical Care. Many critical access hospitals in rural states have to transfer patients to other medical centers that provide higher levels of care. Sometimes, patients must be transferred out of state if beds are not readily available. This puts a tremendous burden on patients and their families. In addition, critical access hospitals also incur revenue losses from transferring patients out, leading to financial strain. To support the bedside team at critical access hospitals in Mississippi and enable them to provide care for patients locally in their communities, we have designed and implemented a 24/ 7 Tele Critical Care project. Under this project, bedside providers in the EDs and wards can connect with board-certified critical care physicians and discuss care for their patients via audio/video visits facilitated through mobile carts. The pilot, supported by funding from HRSA, went live on November 7, 2023, at Copiah Medical Center and on April 1, 2024, at Greenwood Leflore Medical Center in Mississippi.
Virtual Nursing. Most health systems have turned to innovation and technology to find solutions; however, rigorous studies still need to be completed. We have designed and implemented a virtual nursing project that will enable remote nurses to assist bedside nurses in reducing burnout, improving efficiency, and enhancing patient satisfaction. The virtual nursing pilot program went live on Monday, March 20, 2023. The project will integrate AI-based technology to enhance virtual nursing capabilities, focusing on fall prevention in hospitals and remote patient monitoring.

Telehealth Implementation Assistance

The UMMC’s COE is organizing the first Telehealth Implementation Bootcamp with a grand kick-off July 18-19, 2024, in New Orleans. Along with collaborators from the southern region Telehealth Resource Centers and the Medical University of South Carolina COE, this 36-week Bootcamp welcomes healthcare groups developing new telehealth programs or seeking to expand existing ones. Participants will receive technical assistance, tools and resources, and monthly deep-dive sessions with subject matter experts. Registration is free to individuals and organizations committed to an interactive, tailored support experience. (Learn more HERE.)

Overall, UMMC’s telehealth program has grown to serve over 200 sites across Mississippi and collaborations with organizations nationally. As UMMC’s Center of Excellence in Telehealth continues to chart new frontiers in telemedicine, its collaborative ethos and dedication to innovation serve as guiding beacons, illuminating the path toward a more accessible, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare landscape. Through ongoing partnerships and pioneering initiatives, UMMC remains steadfast in its mission to harness the power of telehealth to improve lives and advance the art and science of medicine.

Learn more about UMMC’s Center of Telehealth and COE programs.

The post From Rural Mississippi to Nationwide Impact: UMMC’s Telehealth Evolution appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Connecting Care: Bridging Health and Broadband for Rural Communities

SCTRC Staff — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:21:53 +0000

Today, we’re joined by Chris Charlton, the Broadband Director at the Institute for Digital Health and Innovation (IDHI) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). IDHI is dedicated to leveraging digital technology to address healthcare and broadband access gaps in rural areas. Chris will discuss IDHI’s partnerships with organizations like the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, and Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC), focusing on their collective efforts to bridge the digital divide and enhance healthcare access in rural Arkansas. Let’s look at how these collaborations are making a difference at the healthcare-broadband intersection.

Chris Charlton BSEE, PE, CPI

Broadband Director; UAMS IDHI

SCTRC

Thanks for being here, Chris. Let’s talk about how IDHI collaborates with HRSA, BEAD, and ARC.

Chris Charlton

IDHI uses digital tech to tackle healthcare and broadband disparities in Arkansas. HRSA and BEAD play crucial roles in doing that.

HRSA, under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, focuses on improving healthcare access for vulnerable groups. It supports clinics, health programs, and professional training, funded through federal appropriations.

BEAD, part of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Department of Commerce, aims to expand high-speed internet, especially in underserved areas. Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it’s geared toward broadband infrastructure development.

While HRSA and BEAD share objectives, they’re funded and managed differently by distinct federal departments.

SCTRC

Can you explain how BEAD and HRSA align?

Chris Charlton

Despite being separate entities, BEAD and HRSA complement each other’s goals. BEAD focuses on broadband infrastructure, while HRSA concentrates on health services. BEAD’s broadband expansion directly aids HRSA’s objectives, especially in telehealth. It allows remote patients access to specialist consultations and mental health services without extensive travel. Broadband growth also supports health information technology (HIT), improving care quality and efficiency in HRSA-backed facilities. For education, better internet access enables online training for healthcare workers in underserved areas, helping them stay updated with medical practices. Enhanced connectivity aids public health initiatives, facilitating data collection, tele-public health, and real-time communication during emergencies. It also boosts patient engagement through access to online records and tools for managing chronic conditions. Essentially, BEAD’s infrastructure improvements indirectly enhance HRSA’s mission, fostering a more equitable healthcare system for all, regardless of location.

SCTRC

What is Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC), and how does it intersect with UAMS?

Chris Charlton

Arkansas Rural Connect (ARC) is a program by the Arkansas Department of Commerce, aimed at bringing high-speed broadband to rural areas. Meanwhile, UAMS focuses on healthcare. Their synergy lies in telehealth and digital health efforts. ARC funds broadband expansion, indirectly aiding UAMS in extending telehealth services. This collaboration enhances telehealth, education, research, and public health initiatives, improving healthcare access for rural Arkansans.

ARC’s mission aligns with UAMS’s goals of extending healthcare services to underserved regions. By providing broadband infrastructure, ARC enables UAMS to reach remote areas with telehealth services, overcoming geographical barriers. This means rural residents can access specialist consultations, mental health services, and routine healthcare without extensive travel.

Improved broadband access facilitates online training and education programs for healthcare professionals in rural areas. UAMS can offer continuous professional development, addressing workforce shortages and ensuring quality care delivery.

Additionally, enhanced internet connectivity supports UAMS’s research initiatives by enabling efficient data collection and analysis from rural populations. This data informs public health strategies and healthcare services planning, benefiting both rural communities and the broader healthcare system.

Lastly, fast and reliable internet access allows UAMS to disseminate health information effectively to rural populations. This includes preventive health measures, disease outbreak updates, and health education resources, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

The collaboration between ARC and UAMS leverages broadband infrastructure to enhance healthcare access and outcomes in rural Arkansas which addresses health disparities and improves the well-being of residents.

SCTRC

Can you explain how this all started for UAMS?

Chris Charlton

In August of 2010, UAMS received a grant for 102 million to provide equipment and dedicated circuits to healthcare providers and the Arkansas Department of Health. This began the Institutes drive into broadband expansion in Arkansas. In 2020, IDHI was recruited by the Arkansas Governor’s Office to design and operate a program for broadband grants to ISPs, called the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP), for the expansion of broadband as driven by the pandemic. The project is still functioning today and growing each year until each household is served.

SCTRC

Thank you, Chris, for sharing your insights today. Before we wrap up, any final thoughts?

Chris Charlton

While ARC focuses on broadband and UAMS on healthcare, ARC’s efforts in rural internet access are vital for expanding UAMS’s telehealth and education outreach. This collaboration addresses rural communities’ challenges comprehensively. Since 2020, UAMS – IDHI has managed the ARC Project, allocating over $555 million to ISPs for broadband expansion, greatly impacting Arkansans’ access to essential services.

The post Connecting Care: Bridging Health and Broadband for Rural Communities appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Tennessee Telehealth – Rural Health Conf and Vanderbilt Med Ctr

SCTRC Staff — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 19:43:35 +0000

Checking the state of Tennessee Telehealth

The SCTRC Outreach team just returned from Pigeon Forge, TN and the Rural Health Association of Tennessee Annual Conference (www.RHAT.org) themed “Threading Partnerships for a Healthy Tennessee”. The goal of each year’s conference is to educate participants about health concerns affecting rural Tennesseans.

Old Mill in Pigeon Forge (photo from Thinkstock)

The specific goal of this year’s conference was to highlight the roll of relationship building for a healthier state.

Paige Ownby, RN, School Nurse, and Don Best, School Health Coordinator from the Sevier County School System

The SCTRC team was among over 70 vendors ranging from healthcare facilities and providers, higher education institutions and non-profit organizations. Our team made valuable contacts and heard many great speakers. Special mention to the all those that signed up and became members of www.LearnTelehealth.org. We look forward to interacting with you there!

During our visit we also toured the Sevier County School System school health project called SMART (Student Medical Assistance Response Team). The school system partners with Cherokee Health Systems to provide health care via telemedicine to their 23 district schools serving elementary, middle and high school. There are full-time nurses at each school that play an integral role in SMART. Over 6,000 students are enrolled and the rural schools utilize the program most.

While traveling Tennessee we visited Vanderbilt Medical Center. New telehealth initiatives are being developed there. We look forward to sharing more details soon!

We stopped by Vanderbilt University Medical Center to visit the telehealth group there.

The conference was a pleasure and a great connection to telehealth in our region. Overall, we met a lot of Tennesseans excited about telehealth!

The post Tennessee Telehealth – Rural Health Conf and Vanderbilt Med Ctr appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

2013 Video Year in Review

SCTRC Staff — Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:35:06 +0000

As we approach the end of another year we wanted to look back to some highlights from 2013 at LearnTelehealh.

Our Top Videos of the Year

LearnTelehealth Featured Site Series

Our staff multi-media specialist, Brian Lee, produced some great videos in 2013 leading off with the “Featured Site” series. The series was produced to show examples of practitioners forging a new path in their organizations by using telehealth. Check out all the videos here. Here are few great examples:

Featured Site: UAMS ANGELS Call Center

Featured Site: Arkansas Heart Hospital

Featured Site: West Central Center on Aging, Fort Smith, AR

LearnTelehealth Explainer Series – mHealth

mHealth exploded in 2013 and we produced a primer video highlighting the subject. It’s the latest in our popular Explainer Series.

2013 South Central Telehealth Forum recordings

If you could not attend our forum in-person, this might be the next best thing – you can peruse 13 videos from experts nation-wide. Here are a few staff picks:

There are lots more videos from the Forum here: https://learntelehealth.org/videos#2013-south-central-telehealth-forum

The Quarterly Thought Symposium Series

2013 was a great year for expert telehealth presentations. Be sure to check out all four videos below to learn from successful programs.

“Connecting the Arkansas Delta”, presented by Connie Ash, Director of Quality & Nursing Informatics from the Great River Medical Center

“Using Telemedicine to Provide Pediatric Genetic and Follow-up Newborn Screening Services” presented by Lianne Hasegawa, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor, Western States Genetic Collaborative, Hawaii Department of Health

“Telehealth Reimbursement in Mississippi” presented by Dr. Kristi Henderson, DNP, CAPO, CFNP, University of Mississippi Medical Center

“Teledermatology in Arkansas” presented by Dr. Chris Schach, MD, Ozark Dermatology Clinic, Onlinedermclinic.com

We hope you enjoy the videos and will continue to consider LearnTelehealth as a key contributor to your telehealth learning. Please let us know if we can do better. There’s a comment box below.

The post 2013 Video Year in Review appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Mississippi Congressman to give presentation, live Q and A on telehealth legislation

SCTRC Staff — Mon, 16 Dec 2013 17:39:55 +0000

Mississippi congressman Gregg Harper, (R), will give an interactive presentation titled, “Telehealth Talk with U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.): A Live Q&A,” at 12 noon, CST, on January 16, 2014 for the LearnTelehealth quarterly webinar series. This presentation will also serve as the National Telehealth Resource Center Webinar for January.

Rep Gregg Harper, R, Mississippi

Harper and three other U.S. Reps introduced the bipartisan telehealth bill, “Telehealth Enhancement Act of 2013.” According to Harper’s web site, the bill “…builds on existing payment innovations. This proposal is the result of a months-long drafting process involving patients, providers, and other industry stakeholders…” According to an excerpt from Rep. Harper’s web site the bill aims to address physician shortages and patient access to care:

“These efforts began with a conversation about physician shortages and concerns with patients’ access to quality and affordable health care,” the authors said in a letter urging their colleagues to cosponsor the bill. “Until we are able to attract more physicians to rural communities and tighten the access gap, the next best alternative is to use technology to connect health professionals with underserved populations – rural and urban – through telehealth networks.”

Join us for this exciting free webinar! Space is limited so register now.

Presentation title: “Telehealth Talk with U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper (R-Miss.): A Live Q&A,”

When: January 16, 2014 at noon Central time (1p Eastern, 11a Mountain, 10a Pacific, 9a Alaska time, 8a Hawaii time)

Register Now – http://www.telehealthresourcecenter.org/events

The post Mississippi Congressman to give presentation, live Q and A on telehealth legislation appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Webinar: Broadband for Safety Net Providers

SCTRC Staff — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 20:47:46 +0000

For many of you classified as safety net providers there is a upcoming webinar you will want to attend titled, “USDA Broadband Progams for Safety Net Providers.” It’s particularly of interest to those in the South Central Region because two of the presenters are from Arkansas’ Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock.

Presentation Title: “USDA Broadband Progams for Safety Net Providers”

When: Friday, November 22, 2013, at 1PM Central

To Register: https://cc.readytalk.com/r/cfqjixgl0bbo&eom.

According to the announcement:

In order to meet the goal of increasing economic opportunity in rural America and the safety net population, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) finances new construction and upgrades to telecommunications infrastructure. Access to high-speed internet services through broadband networks and other quality telecommunications services increases educational opportunities, improved availability of healthcare, job creation, retention and growth of businesses, and other economic growth.

The presenters will include Arkansas’s Baptist Health’s Vicki Norman, Director of the eICU and Efren Tragico, Program Manager for Outreach. According to the release, questions for presenters are welcome ahead of the event and can be emailed to healthit@hrsa.gov. Norman and Tragico will be joined by Jessica Zufolo, Deputy Administrator of Rural Utilities Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The post Webinar: Broadband for Safety Net Providers appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Free Webinar, Practice Guidelines for Telemedicine

SCTRC Staff — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 16:00:51 +0000

Don’t miss this weeks free telehealth webinar from the National Network of Telehealth Resource Centers titled, “Practice Guidelines for Telemedicine.”

Presentation Title: “Practice Guidelines for Telemedicine”

When: Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 1:00 PM Central

To Join Webinar: https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/sbtelehealth/

This presentation, given by noted telemedicine expert and a former president of the American Telemedicine Association, Elizabeth Krupinski, Ph.D., will contain invaluable information as you progress in building your program. According to the presenter,

“Telemedicine practice guidelines form the basis for uniform, quality patient care and safety and are a critical tool in promoting the deployment of telemedicine services. Standards help accelerate the adoption of telemedicine by payers, administrators and providers along with industry, government agencies, medical societies and other stakeholders. Dr. Krupinski, Chair of the American Telemedicine Association’s Standards and Guidelines Committee will discuss how ATA’s practice guidelines are helping to shape service delivery in today’s healthcare environment.”

Dr. Krupinski is the Program Director for the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (http://southwesttrc.org) and Associate Director for Program Evaluation for the University of Arizona Telemedicine Program.

Click and download the flyer below to share with others.

Be a part of the conversation with us at https://twitter.com/LearnTelehealth

SAVE THE DATE: LearnTelehealth Annual Telehealth Conference, May 8-9, 2014, Little Rock

The post Free Webinar, Practice Guidelines for Telemedicine appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Telehealth Webinar this week

SCTRC Staff — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 16:15:45 +0000

Don’t miss an interesting telehealth webinar this Thursday, October 24 at 3:00pm Central from the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center, NRTRC (http://www.nrtrc.org/ and @nrtrc on Twitter). The talk is titled, “The FDA and App Development” and is given by Tom Richards, MD. To register click here.

The announcement from the NRTRC says,

“The long-awaited FDA guidance on mobile medical devices and apps has
finally been issued. In this webinar Dr. Richards will outline what it all means to
developers, consumers, and healthcare.”

Here’s the flyer with the full information.

The post Telehealth Webinar this week appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Recording posted from Teledermatology webinar

SCTRC Staff — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:40:22 +0000

The recording from the LearnTelehealth Quarterly Thought Conference on October 15, 2013 has now been posted in the media section of the site. The webinar titled, “Teledermatology in Arkansas: Our Experience,” given by Dr. Chris Schach, MD from the Ozark Dermatology Clinic, kicked off the new fiscal grant year for us. There was a lively and curious group of attendees.

If you missed it see below for a few options to view the talk.

Also view the file at https://learntelehealth.org/media/thought-symposium/webinar-teledermatology-in-arkansas/ or directly from Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/77058820

The post Recording posted from Teledermatology webinar appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Teledermatology presentation from Dr. Chris Schach

SCTRC Staff — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 20:43:48 +0000

Please join us for our Quarterly Thought Conference on October 15 at 3:00pm central time. Dr. Chris Schach MD, a dermatologist from Northwest Arkansas, will present his talk titled “Teledermatology: Our Experience.” You must register to attend so see the link below.

Dr. Schach practices at Ozark Dermatology Clinic. In addition to offering a full-service dermatology practice, Ozark Dermatology also utilizes telemedicine in its practice. Dr. Schach received his medical degree and his dermatology residency training at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) where he was chief resident. He is the current president of the Arkansas Dermatological Society and an assistant clinical professor at UAMS.

Dr. Schach is also a founder of the site http://www.onlinedermclinic.com/.

This webinar occurred October 15, 2013. View the archived video here.

The post Teledermatology presentation from Dr. Chris Schach appeared first on LearnTelehealth.