Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Telehealth partnership announced
 Local Hadi Shriners and the College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Indiana announced a partnership and demonstrated real-time video consultation in the Telehealth Clinic of USI’s Health Professions Center on October 13, 2008. During the demonstration, the USI faculty and Evansville patients connected with the medical team at Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati using the interactive video conferencing equipment. Various camera angles help the medical team in Cincinnati to see and visually examine the patient. The Shriners are furnishing the technology and the University of Southern Indiana is providing the facility. Children treated at the Shriners Hospital for Children-Cincinnati will be the first patients to use the telemedicine equipment. Prior to the availability of telemedicine at USI, local Shriners transported the child and a family member to Cincinnati to receive follow-up care. In the near future, children treated at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago and St. Louis also will be seen in the USI Telehealth Clinic. “The technology is a way for patients to save time and transportation costs, but still provide follow-up expert care by the team in Cincinnati and in other Shriners Hospitals for Children,” said Frank Nolte, a volunteer with the Hadi Hospital staff. Dr. Nadine Coudret, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, said, “This telehealth partnership is a wonderful opportunity for our college to support the care provided by the expert clinicians at Shriners Hospitals. It will also provide our nursing and health professions students the opportunity to learn and participate in telehealth, a rapidly expanding health care delivery system.” Telemedicine uses a combination of video cameras, computers, and video-conferencing technology. The communication is in real time, allowing patients to receive immediate care from specialists. Shriners Hospitals for Children is an international health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs. The Shriners Hospital for Children-Cincinnati provides acute and rehabilitative care for pediatric burns. The College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Indiana prepares students to become expert clinicians and health care leaders. Kathy Funke Office of News and Information Services 812/465-7050 kfunke@usi.edu |
Copyright © 2013 University of Southern Indiana. All rights reserved.