RHIOs, HIEs and Telemedicine

A HIMSS Presentation on RHIOs and Telehealth/Telemedicine
The presentation makes the following points:

Telemedicine & RHIOs

• RHIOs can integrate Telemedicine
programs into the local health information
exchange

• Telemedicine will create efficiencies, improve
quality and give rural patients better ACCESS

• RHIOs can tie patients to specialists around
the country and the world through Telemedicine

Telemedicine Benefits to RHIO

• Increased diagnostic resources

• Improved quality of medical services

• Strengthened ties to specialty care

• Alleviated isolation of rural providers

• Enhanced ability to attract and keep primary care
physicians and staff

• Facilitated training of health professionals in rural
communities • Patients can stay close to home for their care

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I see a major function of a RHIOs and HIEs as facilitators of clinical data exchange, moving data from a source provider (hospital, clinical lab etc) to a physician or other healthcare provider. Telemedicine adds to the data services provided by the RHIO.