About Telehealth

A nurse helping a patient during a consultation

What is Telehealth

Families of the Mid-South have historically suffered from a lack of access to certain health care services, particularly in rural counties. Typically, residents who live in these regions are referred to larger urban areas for special health care needs. These referrals involve time, travel, lost work wages, and – more importantly – delays in receiving proper treatments. When these factors become significant, the patient will often delay or opt against treatment, usually causing further harm to their physical and financial well-being. UTHSC Telehealth was formed to address this problem by connecting rural locations with specialists and educators of metropolitan centers. This interactive network allows physicians, nurses, therapists, counselors, nutritionists and educators to see and speak with clinicians, patients and families in rural or isolated communities.

Why Should We Use It?

Telehealth consultations provide numerous benefits to you and your family:

• Keeps your family in the community, avoiding costs associated with travel, missed work or school, and childcare expenses.
• Saves time by essentially eliminating travel time and overnight stays.
• Increases the number and variety of specialty services that you and your family can easily access for improved quality of care.

How Does a Telehealth Consult Work?

• A physician contacts us to request a referral to one of our specialists.
• The Telehealth Network staff contacts you to set up an appointment.
• When you arrive at your local clinic or hospital for the appointment, a nurse will escort you to the clinic room and answer any questions you may have.
• The video call will be made, connecting you to your specialist on a private, secure line.
• You will be able to see and speak to the specialist on a TV screen.
• The specialist will be able to treat you as though you were in the same room through a wide array of devices including, but not limited to the following:
  • an otoscope allows the specialist to look into your ears
  • a stethoscope captures heart and breathing sounds
  • a general exam camera is used to view the skin, throat and eyes
  • a document camera is used to view x-rays or photographs

Why Should I Refer My Patients?

• Referrals provide patients access to specialists that may not otherwise be readily available.
• Increases a clinician’s resources and ability to respond to a wider variety of health care concerns.
• The referring physician receives prompt consultation reports which leads to interactive case management and encourages continuity of care.
• The Telehealth Network offers physicians isolated from the resources of a major metropolitan center the opportunity to provide a broader scope of health care, tapping advanced resources remotely.

What Role Does the Community Play?

By telling us how we can specifically meet local needs, the community plays a vital role in the planning, design and implementation of the local telehealth service. Employees in communities with access to a telehealth network benefit from fewer sick days and increased productivity on the job.

Educational Services

Patient-Centered Education

Topics targeted toward the community include asthma management, diabetes and arthritis education, how-to-quit-smoking help and a support group for families of Alzheimer’s patients. One-on-one health care education includes topics such as breast-feeding, obesity and nutrition.

Clinician-Centered Education

CME accredited pediatric, adult, and surgery grand rounds are available each week. Seminars and lectures on drug interventions, poison control, new medications and a variety of other pertinent topics are also available.

Contact Us

Telehealth
920 Madison Ave.
Suite 434
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: (901) 448-4330
Fax: (901) 448-4324