Understandably, Newman Regional Health administrators are glad they can expand their telehealth options through a major donation from the Patterson Family Foundation.
This week’s announcement of the $485,000 grant — and the start of the Telehealth for Rural Health Equity program as a result — basically expands telehealth options for just about every hospital clinic and patient-facing department. Chief Executive Officer Cathy Pimple says this is one of the latest ways Newman Regional Health is evolving to meet patient needs.
Executive Director for Strategy and Business Partnerships Steven Bazan says the importance of telehealth, especially in rural settings such as the Flint Hills, can’t be understated.
Expanding telehealth will meet identified needs through the hospital’s Community Health Needs Assessment earlier this year like behavioral health, advanced cardiology, endocrinology, infectious disease and high-risk obstetrics. Another benefit is enhancing the tele-hospitalist program to help with inpatient coverage during nights and weekends. Pimple sees other benefits.
The next 15 months will see significant work on hardware and software installation. Bazan says new technology means an increased emphasis on security.
The hospital has said it expects to see positive results in patient satisfaction, clinical team satisfaction and disease management as rural telehealth becomes more prominent.
