Season 1- Rural Health
Episode 8: Embracing Telemedicine to Keep Georgia Connected & Cared For
How can organizations within a state collaborate to ensure that their patients can access the care they need? By leveraging telemedicine and utilizing statewide partnerships that share the common goal of health equity for all. Listen as Suleima Salgado, the Director of Telemedicine for the Georgia Department of Public Health shares some of the best practices her team has used to keep patients and providers connected virtually across all 159 counties. Suleima and her colleagues exemplify the power a state can have when multiple entities work together to overcome access barriers to get patients access to care they deserve.
For residents of some rural Georgia cities and towns, it can be a three- or four-hour drive, each way, to see a medical specialist. Thankfully, through the state's telemedicine network, residents can get access to high-quality care at local facilities.
Georgia’s Department of Public Health (DPH) has established a telemedicine network that is recognized as one of the most robust and comprehensive public health telemedicine networks in the nation and a best-practices model of care to bring specialized care to underserved and rural areas of Georgia.
The National Consortium Of Telehealth Resource Centers provides trusted consultation, resources & news at no cost to help you plan your experience. Each Telehealth Resource Center has a regional uniqueness, allowing them to provide a wide range of assistance targeting local community needs. They provide free technical assistance, education, and resources on various telehealth topics.
Broadly speaking, telehealth is the use of electronic technology to deliver a wide range of health care services. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many more patients are using telehealth to get the care they need. For this webinar, we had a live discussion about how telehealth may impact your care, the challenges we must overcome and the opportunities to integrate care services that address your financial and social needs. We also debuted new telehealth resources that will help everyone prepare for their next telehealth appointment!
Telehealth is a safe and convenient way to receive some of the care that you need without having to leave home. Telehealth appointments are “virtual”, meaning they are typically handled by having the doctor, nurse or other practitioner conduct your appointment with them using your smartphone, computer or tablet. Here are five tips that may help ease your concerns and have you get the most out of your telehealth appointment.
