Center for Distance Health Hosts Delta Group

Oct. 15, 2014 | A group of 60 people from eight states visited UAMS and its Center for Distance Health on Sept. 10 to learn about the impact of UAMS’ telemedicine program across Arkansas.

The group of business leaders, elected officials, economic development and business management workers, medical professionals and government personnel was from the Delta Center for Economic Development, part of Arkansas State University.

Curtis Lowery, M.D., chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the UAMS College of Medicine, welcomed them and explained how the Center for Distance Health is using technology to improve health care in the state —  specifically rural areas. 

“What will revolutionize health care down the road are family health care practitioners and pediatricians getting support they need in rural areas,” Lowery said. “If you have an APN in a rural area with the support of a high-risk obstetrician, when they have a sick pregnant woman they can consult via interactive video. It brings up the quality of care in these primary care areas to a level that would never be possible without technology.”

Priya Mendiratta, M.D., associate professor and geriatric clerkship director at the College of Medicine and Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, described how UAMS is using telemedicine to address the needs of the elderly.

“Do we really have enough physicians to care for the aging populations? The answer is no,” Mendiratta said. “I think we are going to be less and less in the offices and be more and more managing the patients through telemedicine.”

For instance, the Center for Distance Health has begun a pilot program in one nursing home to use telemedicine to connect nursing home and rehabilitation patients with health care providers.

“The doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses and physician assistants can view patients through secure laptops from anywhere,” Mendiratta said. “This will improve quality of care for patients in rehab.”

Alan Decker, deputy director of the Delta Center, said the group was particularly interested in how telemedicine has impacted geriatrics.

“Our group was able to better understand a sustainable distance health model and how it is changing health care as it relates to clinics and rural communities, and how it’s helping to improve the quality of life for the elderly,” Decker said.

The group also toured the Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System (ANGELS) Call Center and Tina Benton, ANGELS program director, gave an overview of the program.

Donna Ussery, nurse project manager, explained equipment. Sarah Rhoads Kinder, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and CDH director of education, and Kesha James, CDH online education manager, demonstrated the Learn on Demand educational program.

Rosalyn Perkins, CDH telemedicine clinical services director, spoke on the telemedicine consult room.

The visiting group members came from Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.

The Delta Center coordinates the economic development outreach services of Arkansas State University and works to provide a comprehensive approach to serving the businesses, governments and citizens of Arkansas. Services offered through the Delta Center range from helping to retool today’s workforce to training the current and future leaders of Arkansas corporations.