New technology helps expand hospital services in county
Clarke County Public Hospital will hold its first telemedicine clinic Tuesday, Nov. 24 when cardiologist Dr. John Pargulski helps the local health care facility embark on a new era.
The first telemedicine clinic has been a work in progress at Clarke County Hospital since 2006, and is the result of hundreds of hours of meetings and planning. Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication technology such as cameras mounted on large computer monitors and handheld cameras to connect Clarke County Hospital with specialty physicians in Des Moines.
When Clarke County Hospital conducts its first clinic next week, it will become one of the first rural hospitals in Iowa to utilize the new technology to enhance and expedite health care services in Osceola.
"Our first telemedicine clinic will be with a limited number of patients to test our new system and make sure it works as it was designed," Clarke County Hospital Chief Executive Officer Brian Evans said. "Dr. Pargulski will hold this initial clinic at the Clarke County Hospital instead of his office in Des Moines to assist us in making sure the equipment and testing process runs smoothly."
For Evans and Clarke County Hospital officials, there is a sense of excitement surrounding the new telemedicine program.
"Telemedicine is going to redefine access to healthcare in the future," Evans said. "For our community, it will expand access to specialty physicians without patients having to leave Clarke County."
Clarke County Hospital Chief Clinical Officer Vic Irvin agrees with her colleague that telemedicine will change healthcare for the local facility.
"We are pretty excited and feel the timing is right to move forward," Irvin said. "This is significantly changing how we do things. It is life-improving care. People will no longer have to drive to Des Moines to see a specialist. There are a lot of benefits to the patient and the hospital."
The cost of the three-year project is $646,000. Clarke County Hospital recently learned more than half of those costs will be shouldered from a federal United States Department of Agriculture grant. The hospital has received a $356,243 from the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant to help purchase video conferencing and related devices that will connect the county hospital to local sites, such as the senior center, a public health center, three schools and the public library.
“This money will help purchase technology to increase efficiency at rural hospitals while improving care for patients,” Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley said.
Along with connecting with specialty physicians in Des Moines for virtual office visits, the grant will help the telemedicine program expand emergency room support, health-related education and healthcare training.
"Our first phase is going to be connecting with specialty physicians followed by inpatient consults, emergency room consults and lastly professional and community education, " Evans said.
The $356,243 grant, which is to be distributed over a three-year period, is one of the largest Clarke County Hospital has received from the federal government.
"The Obama Administration is working to ensure that rural citizens have access to a full range of educational opportunities and access to quality medical care," U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "The funding we are announcing today will deliver these opportunities by expanding telecommunications, educational resources and computer networks throughout rural communities."
Clarke County Hospital plans on demonstrating the new telemedicine capabilities during its open house of the second floor and first floor west wing specialty clinic area at the beginning of 2010.
"On behalf of Clarke County Hospital, we would like to thank Secretary Vilsack, the USDA and our elected officials who worked to make our vision a reality," Evans said. "Our community is also playing a role in telemedicine program. Through the efforts of the Clarke County Hospital Foundation's Employee Giving Campaign and Community Annual Fund drive which is being currently being conducted, our employees, neighbors and friends are generously making gifts to help advance Clarke County Hospital."
