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Print Adena becomes telemedicine hub
January 18, 2012
The dream of many at the Adena Health System came true a few days ago when Dr. Vijay Reddy saw two patients in Greenfield, without leaving his office in Chillicothe, thanks to the use of high-definition video and audio equipment.
The visits were a first and the beginning of a new generation of telemedicine in the Adena Health System.
“While Adena has been involved in telemedicine services previously, this is the first time that we were the ‘hub’ in providing the service,” said Michael Dennis, System Director of Medicine at the Adena Medical Group and Practice Manager of Adena Kidney Specialists.
In last week’s visits, Reddy’s office in Adena Pulmonology was connected by means of telemedicine equipment to the Adena Greenfield Medical Center, where the two patients were present.
One of those patients described his telemedicine experience as the “coolest thing ever,” said Sandy Smith, AGMC’s Administrator.
Presently, Nationwide Children’s Hospital serves as the hub for telemedicine services at Women and Children’s Services, while the OSU Burn Center serves as the hub for Wound Care Services in the medical center.
Now, at least for certain services, the Adena Medical Center can serve as the hub for regional sites within the health system’s service area.
“This program allows the Adena Medical Group to provide specialty services to patients at a regional site where we cannot feasibly place a provider of that specialty. The advantages to the patient are that they can reduce their travel time and receive their specialty care locally,” Dennis said.
Adena’s Information Technology department has been working since last year in developing this telemedicine link between Adena Medical Center and Adena Greenfield Medical Center.
A telemedicine suite at AGMC is specially equipment with telemedicine equipment enabling patients to be examined by specialists at AMC.
“A clinician who accompanies the patient in the telemedicine suite becomes the hands for the physician specialist. Otherwise, the provider and patient communicate with high-definition clarity as though they are in the room together,” Dennis said.
Adena also is involved in a telemedicine project with Westmoreland Place, a skilled nursing facility in Chillicothe.
“It just makes sense to use this technology for patients who have difficulty getting from one point to another and who don’t necessarily need to be seen in an office setting,” said Dr. Sever, an Adena surgeon who was instrumental in the project.
Westmoreland Place has leased a mobile unit that will enable it to interface with the telemedicine equipment at Adena, said Julie DeCamp, Community Relations Director at the skilled nursing facility.
“I think once we get going with it, it’s going to be a very vital tool,” she said.
The visits were a first and the beginning of a new generation of telemedicine in the Adena Health System.
“While Adena has been involved in telemedicine services previously, this is the first time that we were the ‘hub’ in providing the service,” said Michael Dennis, System Director of Medicine at the Adena Medical Group and Practice Manager of Adena Kidney Specialists.
In last week’s visits, Reddy’s office in Adena Pulmonology was connected by means of telemedicine equipment to the Adena Greenfield Medical Center, where the two patients were present.
One of those patients described his telemedicine experience as the “coolest thing ever,” said Sandy Smith, AGMC’s Administrator.
Presently, Nationwide Children’s Hospital serves as the hub for telemedicine services at Women and Children’s Services, while the OSU Burn Center serves as the hub for Wound Care Services in the medical center.
Now, at least for certain services, the Adena Medical Center can serve as the hub for regional sites within the health system’s service area.
“This program allows the Adena Medical Group to provide specialty services to patients at a regional site where we cannot feasibly place a provider of that specialty. The advantages to the patient are that they can reduce their travel time and receive their specialty care locally,” Dennis said.
Adena’s Information Technology department has been working since last year in developing this telemedicine link between Adena Medical Center and Adena Greenfield Medical Center.
A telemedicine suite at AGMC is specially equipment with telemedicine equipment enabling patients to be examined by specialists at AMC.
“A clinician who accompanies the patient in the telemedicine suite becomes the hands for the physician specialist. Otherwise, the provider and patient communicate with high-definition clarity as though they are in the room together,” Dennis said.
Adena also is involved in a telemedicine project with Westmoreland Place, a skilled nursing facility in Chillicothe.
“It just makes sense to use this technology for patients who have difficulty getting from one point to another and who don’t necessarily need to be seen in an office setting,” said Dr. Sever, an Adena surgeon who was instrumental in the project.
Westmoreland Place has leased a mobile unit that will enable it to interface with the telemedicine equipment at Adena, said Julie DeCamp, Community Relations Director at the skilled nursing facility.
“I think once we get going with it, it’s going to be a very vital tool,” she said.
