University of Mississippi Medical Center to expand telehealth network: 5 takeaways

After noting the success of its diabetes telehealth pilot program, the Jackson, Miss.-based University of Mississippi Medical Center is set to expand its telehealth services, according to the Clarion-Ledger.

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Here’s what you need to know:

1. In 2014, UMMC, Care Innovations, C Spire, GE Healthcare, the office of Governor Phil Bryant and Ruleville, Miss.-based North Sunflower Medical Center partnered to create the Mississippi-based Diabetes Telehealth Network.

2. The Diabetes Telehealth Network used tablet computers, which were loaned to patients at no cost, to facilitate communication between physicians and patients; services included scheduled video appointments, education on diet and exercise and a platform for patients to take vital signs.

3. Michael Adcock, administrator of the Center for Telehealth at UMMC, told the Clarion-Ledger that the telehealth pilot program improved clinical outcomes and care coordination for managing diabetes; preliminary data report that 96 percent of patients took their medication as directed and 83 percent of patients kept their scheduled telehealth appointments.

4. UMMC plans to utilize similar telehealth services for patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and kidney disease. These programs will be based off of the Diabetes Telehealth Network model.

5. Two technological implementation lessons UMMC learned during its two-year pilot program include the benefit of using an iPad mini, rather than a larger tablet, and the benefit of using Bluetooth, to provide patients with a wireless program.

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