No matter where you are in most of Arkansas you now can get expert health care.
“Research has shown when you bring medicine closer to the patient, the patient has a better outcomes,” says Michael Manley, UAMS Director of Outreach for Center of Distance Health.
It`s called Arkansas e-Link, led by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
It's a statewide broadband network connecting patients with physicians
“Getting healthcare services to where the patients are so that geography or where a patient is doesn`t determine their access to expertise and excellent healthcare services,” says Dan Rahn, UAMS Chancellor.
Using high-speed data transmission, it allows patients and doctors to communicate through 454 sites across the state.
Without needing to travel patients can have their hometown physician communicate with specialists through a high-definition interactive camera.
“We also have a peripheral, such as electronic stethoscope so whatever the nurse or physician on one side is listening to goes through this cart and goes to wherever, whether it`s 5 miles or 500 miles away. And the other physician or nurse is listening to the exact same thing on their stethoscope because it`s electronic,” explains Manley.
Arkansas e-Link was created from a $102 million federal grant.
Washington County will receive more than $3 million for data transmission lines, interactive video units and medical equipment.