Rural Telehospice

More than just rural and inaccessible, this patient case study shows the value of telehealth to demonstrate a need for services where none had been thought needed or ordered, as relayed by Gina Banks, RN, Telehospice Coordinator, INTEGRIS Health (Miami, OK). She describes a case of a very rural hospice patient whose severe wounds required specialized care. However, in this case, the patient's doctor refused to consent to ordering such services unless the ill and fragile patient could be examined by him personally in his offices. She notes:

As Ms. Banks concluded, the patient died within weeks but his comfort level had been significantly increased as a result of the convincing "tele-connect."