There is no denying that telemedicine is on the rise. Hospitals and independent physician practices across the country are incorporating emails, texts and live streaming videos into their everyday routines in order to provide patients with quality care without requiring them to visit a doctors’ office or travel long distances.
An article in The Wall Street Journal this week shares how Mercy Hospital of St. Louis, which is comprised of 42 acute-care and specialty hospitals, 700 clinic and outpatient facilities and more than 2,100 doctors in four states, is breaking ground on a $50 million virtual-care center. When it opens in 2015, it will house 75 telemedicine programs staffed by 300 medical professionals linked to Mercy facilities and partner hospitals.
As video consultations steadily become available at more and more hospitals and practices, and with more than half of U.S. hospitals now using some form of remote technology to deliver services, physicians are finding a way to help treat those who might not have immediate access to their care. Additionally, interactive videos may provide Specialdocs’ concierge physicians another means for consulting with specialists across the country on complex medical issues. Click here to read more in the article, “Interactive Video Helps Patients Get Access to Medical Specialists”.