Utilizing Telemedicine to Maintain Local Healthcare Delivery

Palo Pinto General Hospital in Texas, traditionally faced with the challenge of limited access to specialist care, is expanding its telemedicine platform to bring in specialists such as nephrologists, endocrinologists, and speech and swallowing specialists, among others. This move is part of a broader trend in the healthcare industry, with major hospital networks, regional healthcare providers, and specialized telehealth platforms aiming to centralize remote medical services.

One of the pioneers in this shift is UnityPoint Health, a Midwest-based health system. They believe that virtual care strategies not only improve patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes but also reduce stress on inpatient services. UnityPoint Health's telemedicine network now spans eight hospitals across two markets in their health system.

The system's teleneurology platform, launched in partnership with Access TeleCare in 2017, offers a range of services including telestroke, telehospitalist, remote EEG interpretations, virtual behavioural health services, virtual consults in the Emergency Department, and consultation-liaison psychiatry services.

Palo Pinto General Hospital was an early adopter of this technology, implementing a new telemedicine platform to access remote pulmonology and critical care specialists. This decision was prompted by a previous relationship with a telemedicine company that ended due to limited availability and clashes with hospital staff.

The new platform has proven to be a success, reducing emergency department transfers by approximately 36% and pulmonology transfers by over 40%. This has allowed the hospital to keep more patients closer to their families and communities, affecting about 200 patients annually.

Rural hospitals and health systems, like Palo Pinto General, are increasingly using telemedicine platforms to reduce patient transfers and keep patients closer to home. This is particularly important during times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, where hospitals like Palo Pinto were using wings of the hospital that hadn't been used in decades due to an influx of intubated patients.

The new telemedicine platform offers round-the-clock service, ensuring that patients receive the care they need, whenever they need it. UnityPoint Health shares the philosophy of keeping patients as close to their homes, families, and communities as possible for care, recognising the importance of building relationships between patients and their care teams, and the need for a whole team of people for the best practice.

Telemedicine platforms also enable small providers to connect with specialists at larger organisations, allowing them to treat more patients. This can improve patient engagement and loyalty by expanding care to patients with access challenges. Moreover, telemedicine platforms can help insulate hospitals against the influx of disruptors aiming to siphon care away from traditional providers.

In conclusion, the adoption of telemedicine platforms by healthcare systems like UnityPoint Health and Palo Pinto General Hospital is transforming the way rural care is delivered, improving patient outcomes, and keeping patients closer to home.