25 February 2010
North Idaho Rural Health Consortium TeleHealth Network

In 1991, the five district hospitals of the five northern counties of Idaho came together to form the The North Idaho Rural Health Consortium (NIRHC). These five community hospitals have the common goal to provide a regional integrated approach to the delivery of rural health care. This includes access and referral to specialty care, surgical and mental health follow ups and closer relationship with Kootenai Cancer Center physicians and staff.

Since the beginning in 1996, the NIRHC TeleHealth Network has provided educational and administrative meeting time to share resources and experience. In the recent past, clinical services have also become to rely on the real-time connectivity of the network.

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24 March 2009
Saint Alphonsus Telemedicine Network

In July 2007, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center began using Robots to aid in remote telemedicine consults with other hospitals around the region. According to Mike Ward, Executive Director of Rural Health at Saint Alphonsus, "Each telemedicine program is designed to provide patients with improved access to specialty care, and when possible, let patients remain in their own communities."

Please "click here" for more on this article.

12 January 2009
Alaska Rural Telehealth Network (ARTN)

In Alaska, the healthcare workers practicing in hospitals, clinics, and community health centers are essential to the delivery of acute and primary care services to small, rural, and remote communities. Although the majority of Alaska's population is located outside the greater Anchorage area, the majority of healthcare providers in Alaska (e.g., physicians, PAs, RNs, physical therapists) are located in its three largest cities. As a result, rural clinicians practice in a generalist's environment, but where they often need to have specialty knowledge and expertise. This dichotomy is further complicated when you consider the limited opportunities for continuing education and access to specialty consultations available because of travel costs, geographical and weather restrictions, and a general lack of or inability to arrange for clinical coverage during absences.

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12 January 2009
Crossroad Medical Center

Crossroad Medical Center itself was more like coming home. The smiles are still here and I even saw one of the same patients from a year ago-what are the odds?

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01 June 2008
Hematology / Oncology Centers thrive as technology improves.

In the midst of chemotherapy last fall, Pat Ballek didn't feel like driving 260 miles roundtrip for checkups at her doctor's office. So she didn't. Instead, the Sheridan, Wyo., woman met with Billings' Dr. Patrick Cobb over a video link. Ballek dialed in from Cobb's Sheridan clinic, where she was receiving chemotherapy, while Cobb logged on from the Billings office of Hematology-Oncology Centers of the Northern Rockies.

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30 April 2008
Telemedicine Milestone—Our 100th patient consultation

D r. William Hazle, psychiatrist and director of the Behavioral Health Unit at Portneuf Medical Center, has provided psychiatric care to patients in Soda Springs, Malad City, and Afton, Wyoming from his Portneuf Medical Center office since July, 2007.

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30 April 2008
Video-based CNA training now a reality for THC communities

After nine months of planning, Idaho State University Workforce Training, in cooperation with The Hospital Cooperative, is offering a video-based Certificated Nursing Assistants (CNA) course.

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03 March 2008
Dedicated to providing comprehensive, high quality care for patients with cerebrovascular disease.

A multidisciplinary team of physicians including:

• emergency physicians
• neurologists
• neurosurgeons
• radiologists
• physiatrists

works together to provide a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic options. The Stroke Center therapies include medical treatments, Telestroke consultations, advanced neurosurgical techniques, and interventional neuroradiology procedures.

Please "click here" for more on University of Utah TeleStroke Program.

04 September 2007
Eastern Aleutian Tribes, Inc. (EATs) is a tribally operated non-profit health corporation that provides the sole source of comprehensive primary services in the Aleutians East Borough (AEB). EATs has matured into one of the most dynamic and progressive Native health organizations in Alaska.  

Please "click here" for more on EATs.

19 July 2007 The Idaho State University Institute of Rural Health has created a virtual environment to train emergency-preparedness professionals.  This is the only type of training like this anywhere.  Please "click here" to explore this virtual world.