Telemedicine services with remote presence technology

Telemedicine

Telemedicine services with remote presence technology.

At Grande Ronde Hospital, we’re creating the model for the future of rural medicine. We understand the critical nature of access to quality health care in this rural region we serve. Our vision is to bring the best health care available back home to Eastern Oregon. And the possibilities for the future of telemedicine in Oregon are as broad as our vision.

Grande Ronde Hospital has become the lead player for the future of telemedicine in Oregon. In the summer of 2008, hospital staff successfully demonstrated our remote telepresence capabilities to the Oregon Medical Board. This demonstration helped convince the board to adopt a temporary ruling to allow physicians to practice telemedicine across our state lines.

Our commitment is to expand local opportunities for rural health care with telemedicine through medical consults, specialty care, education opportunities and more. The hospital is already partnering with specialists from coast to coast to provide consultative services in cardiology, neurology, neonatology, dermatology, intensive care and much more.

This new rule became permanent in January 2009. Not only have our patients and physicians already benefited from this change, but so has the whole state of Oregon.

Press the play button to watch a video on our RP7 Robotic Device in action!

Hospital Programs and Services Already Underway and in Development

Advanced ICU Care

In August 2008, Grande Ronde Hospital began offering Advanced ICU Care to its patients with ICU Intensivist coverage in the GRH ICU via remote presence technology, our RP7 robot. Patients will benefit by avoiding the expense and inconvenience of unnecessary transfers to Boise or Portland obtain intensivist support.

ER and Inpatient Neurology Support

Protocols are being developed to support emergency room neurological and stroke care with physicians from St. Alphonsus Medical Center.

Cardiology Clinic

In June 2008, Dr. Fred Badke saw the first patient in the Remote Presence Cardiology Clinic. Dr. Badke is a Cardiologist who is part of the Idaho Heart Care Group employed by Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, ID. This consult was a follow-up visit which included lab work, an exam and an EKG. When appropriate, there is also an opportunity for patients of the Remote Presence Cardiology Clinic to receive Congestive Heart Failure education by a clinical nurse specialist.

Dermatology Clinic

In June 2008, a remote presence dermatology exam was performed in Grande Ronde Hospital’s SurgiCenter. The exam was performed by a Board Certified Dermatologist from Indiana. The patients were GRH medical staff who had volunteered for the test. Following these exams, the physician contacted Hospital administration and expressed interest in exploring the possibility of a remote presence Dermatology Clinic through the Hospital. The outcome is that TeleDermatology services are now offered at the Regional Medical Clinic in collaboration with Walla Walla, WA dermatologist, Dr. Francesco D'Allesandro.

Continuing Education

In addition to the monthly Cardiology Grande Rounds and Echocardiology Grande Rounds, other education sessions via the RP7 have been offered to staff on Trauma Essentials, a Heart Failure Supernurse class and a Pediatric Conference. More classes and conferences are in the works.

For information on Grande Ronde Hospital’s remote presence technology, telemedicine project and developing programs, contact Doug Romer, Executive Director-Patient Care Services, at 541.963.1460.

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