This document discusses the use of telemedicine in skilled nursing centers to provide benefits to patients and communities. It outlines how telemedicine allows access to specialists without travel, keeps patients in comfortable environments, and eliminates unnecessary transfers. Current telemedicine uses include psychiatric care, wound care, and dermatology. The document advocates for increasing emergency telemedicine and piloting it between centers and hospitals. It discusses the benefits of telemedicine for quality metrics and positioning centers for the future of value-based healthcare models.

1. The Changing Face of
Healthcare
Telemedicine
in
Skilled Nursing Centers

2. The Ever Changing
Face
Of
Healthcare
Telemedicine
+
Skilled Nursing Centers
Making First Steps

3. Why Telemedicine
 Access to specialist without need for
travel
 Keep patient in safe, comfortable
environment
 Allow centers capability to take different
patient types
 Eliminate unnecessary transfers, use of
ER and avoidable hospitalizations

4. Community Benefit
 Centers are not for profit
 Community benefit required to retain
status
 Centers should reach out to local
physicians
 Centers may or may not be able to bill

5. Today
 Utilization remains limited
 Must use to become comfortable
 Psychiatric and wound care most used
 Occasional dermatology
 Emergency telemedicine usage should
be increased
 Pilot between Shady Acres and Coffee
Regional Hospital

6. Why Emergency Telemedicine
 Use when non life threatening situations occur
 Always ask attending if “We can get an emergency
telemedicine consult before transfer”
 Allows us to treat in house (Avoiding hospitalization, re-
hospitalization when appropriate)
 Prevents multiple transfers / MCG can direct to
appropriate hospital
 Prevents trauma of re-location for patient and family
 *Coffee Regional preparing for VBP (P4P)

7. Current Sites
 Shady Acres  Oconee
 Eatonton  Lillian Carter
 Sparta  Toombs
 Providence Sparta  Four County
 Greene Point  Dawson
 Scott  Chaplinwood
 Oak View  Orchard Manor *
 Oak View N&R

8. Next Steps
 Equipment upgrade as funds available
 Wireless capability for all centers
(portable units)
 Ethica champion
 Focused ER projects

9. Positioned for Future
 Current advantage in SNF market
 Helpful marketing strategy
 Reimbursement / quality indicators RT
hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations
 Community benefit / retention of not for
profit status
 Position for changes – ACO
 Associate health capability

10. Our Future
 Specialty consultations
 Primary care follow up
 Associate health
 Partner with group health insurer
 Position for VBP
 Position for ACO

11. VBP Partners through
Telemedicine
 Shady Acres Nursing & Rehabilitation
 Coffee Regional Hospital
 SNF + Trauma Site
 Decrease transfers
 Decrease hospitalizations / re-
hospitalizations
 Appropriate care in appropriate setting

12. Slow Progress
but……………………………….
Progress None the Less
 Increase emphasis on utilization
 Increase education and support
 Educate physicians
 Continue baby steps

13. Thank You
Questions
?