Teleconsultation
When we published the Reports on the Blueprint to Improve West Virginia Perinatal Health in 2007, the only board-certified perinatal specialists in West Virginia were located in Charleston, Huntington, and Morgantown. Women and babies needing the services of high-risk specialists often have to travel long distances for them. Many do not keep appointments because of the long distances on difficult West Virginia roads.
Other states use telemedicine to bring consultative expertise to patients and community-based physicians in rural areas, saving transportation cost and time. In addition, community-based physicians receive valued support of their primary care delivery. In addition telemedicine also gives health care providers access to continuing education lectures that are given at medical schools.
Telemedicine is the delivery of medical care or services from a distant site. Telemedicine utilizes interactive video and audio teleconferencing technology that allows a physician at a specialty center to see the patient and/or sonogram in real time (almost at the same speed as in person). When needed, specialized ultrasound equipment can digitally transfer a sonogram image to a specialty center. The Partnership is committed to better utilizing telecommunications for perinatal consultation and training and make recommendations.
Perinatal Connect to Care Project Launched
On
February 18, 2010, the West Virginia Perinatal Partnership officially
announced the launching of the Perinatal Connect to Care Project. The
project is funded by a Rural Utilities Service Grant from the US Department
of Agriculture and matching funds from eighteen partnering West Virginia
hospitals and community health centers.
The project will provide telemedicine equipment and training necessary to link fifteen rural health facilities (pregnant women and infants, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses) with the medical specialist in hospitals that care for high risk pregnant women and infants (perinatologists). The live telecommunications will allow high risk pregnant women and infants, and their health care providers to obtain important medical advice without leaving their own communities and traveling far distances. Connect to Care will also allow for medical and nursing education at the rural sites and access for obstetrical referrals.
For
the first time, fifteen rural healthcare sites will have access to
specialized medical consultation via live telemedicine with the three West
Virginia hospitals providing high risk prenatal and newborn care.
Approximately 255,534 women of child bearing age in fifteen rural West
Virginia communities will have easier access to specialized maternity and
newborn care, eliminating the need to travel for far distances. 353,250
rural county residents will realize additional benefits from this project
through access to the medical videoconferencing equipment provided in their
local areas.
Technical assistance and training for this project is being provided by the perinatal partner organization CAMC Health Education and Research Institute. Dr. Luis Bracero, maternal fetal medicine specialist and member of our Central Advisory Council, is serving as Principle Investigator for this project.