Photo: Dr. Babak Rezaei
Based on the results of a Community Needs Assessment survey in the fall of 2015, administrators at Stewart Memorial Community Hospital (SMCH) in Lake City began addressing their patient’s responses that requested more specialists be brought into the area. Forty-two percent of respondents said the service they needed was not available and 76 percent stated a need for a specialist to treat their specific condition. In answer to that, SMCH has begun implementing telehealth in their emergency department and clinical settings to increase access to specialty care. CEO, Cindy Carstens, says they will also be working to expand telehealth services as they continue to recruit more specialists. Secure online streaming video through a computer monitor allows patients and the consulting specialist to talk face-to-face. Carstens says, “The more specialized systems actually have stethoscopes attached to them so the provider can hear the heart and lung sounds through the computer. There are many other attachments that allow providers to examine physical symptoms.” SMCH has purchased their own system. Board certified neurologist, Dr. Babak Rezaei, is one of the first specialists who will begin seeing patients at McCrary Rost Clinic in Lake City via telehealth.
