Telemedicine involves using electronic communications to exchange medical information to improve patient health. It can lower costs and increase access to and quality of care. Telemedicine is utilized through video conferences, emails, smartphones, and remote monitoring devices. It is particularly beneficial for rural populations by providing access to specialists and specialty care, improving outcomes and satisfaction while reducing costs through preventative care and fewer hospital visits and readmissions. Potential drawbacks include high startup costs and reluctance of some providers and patients to use technology instead of in-person visits.

2. Telemedicine: “the
use of medical
information
exchanged from
one site to another
via electronic
communications to
improve a patient’s
clinical health
status”

3. PURPOSE OF TELEMEDICINE
• Improved Outcomes for patients
• Lower Costs for patients and
providers
• Increased Access to care
• Increased Quality of care

4. HOW TELEMEDICINE IS UTILIZED
• Two-way Video – patient-to-physician and physician-tophysician
• Email – communication between patients and physicians
• Smart phones
• IPads
• Computers
• Remote Monitoring Devices
• Typically used for patients and physicians to monitor
recurring conditions

5. RURAL POPULATIONS
Providing
specialty care to
rural populations
is difficult:
•
Lack of specialists
available
•
Lack of medical
technology or
facilities needed
•
•
Limited hours for
appointments
•
Lack of after-hours
care
•
Distance from
facility
•
Lack of ability to get
to doctor’s office or
hospital
Long wait times

7. HOW TELEMEDICINE WOULD HELP RURAL
POPULATIONS AND OUR HOSPITAL
• Increased Patient Satisfaction
• Access to speaking with physicians – email, video
conferencing, standing telemed appointments
• Remote Monitoring
• Technology in the home that monitors certain conditions on
a day-to-day basis in order to send that information to the
physician directly from the home of the patient
• Beneficial for chronic conditions – CHF, Diabetes,
Hypertension

8. HOW TELEMEDICINE WOULD HELP RURAL
POPULATIONS AND OUR HOSPITAL
• Keep medical talent
• Oftentimes recruiting and keeping physicians in rural areas
is difficult. Providing increased access to consultations and
involvement with specialists and metro-area hospitals
allows physicians to interact and work with other specialists
and areas of the state/country
• Positive Patient Outcomes
• Increased access to specialty care  positive outcomes

9. HOW TELEMEDICINE WOULD HELP RURAL
POPULATIONS AND OUR HOSPITAL
• Increased Access to Specialty Care
• Physicians are able to meet with other physicians on the
phone or via videoconferencing to discuss complex cases
• Patients can Consult with Specialists
• Don’t have to leave hospital to go see a specialist
elsewhere – keep business in-house

10. HOW TELEMEDICINE WOULD HELP RURAL
POPULATIONS AND OUR HOSPITAL
• Decreased Cost
• Enables preventative medicine (remote monitoring)
• Costs aren’t high due to emergency visits and hospital
stays due to constant monitoring, communication and
access to specialists
• Fewer readmission penalties

11. DRAWBACKS
• Startup costs can
be expensive
• Willingness of
providers and
patients to use the
technology
• Loss of face-to-face
contact between
physician and
patient