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Telemedicine Expands into NWA

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 h...

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.

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