April 2008
Greetings Everyone!
Welcome to the inaugural edition of TeleNews, the new monthly e-newsletter from the KU Center for Telemedicine and Telehealth (KUCTT). You can expect TeleNews to provide you with the latest on news, services and information relative to contemporary health-centered technology, delivered to you in a crisp, concise format.
Though the focus of each issue will be primarily on activity within the State of Kansas, developments in other parts of the country that may be relevant to you will be included. Topics in future issues are expected to include, for example:
- New telemedicine legislation or policies
- Expansion of clinical telehealth locations and programs
- Trends in use of programs like Health Information Exchange (HIE) or Homecare Telemonitoring
This issue highlights several new clinics that will be offered through KUCTT, as well as updates on the Kansas health information network and a significant telemedicine anniversary. We hope you find these items to be interesting and informative. Enjoy!
As always, your feedback would be appreciated so we can provide the information that is the most meaningful. Any questions about how others can subscribe, or about health technology in general, are also welcome. Feel free to contact me at rspaulding@kumc.edu or call 913.588.2081.
Best Regards,
Ryan Spaulding, Director
KU Center for Telemedicine and Telehealth
Horton Community Hospital Starts
Second Decade Of Telemedicine & Telehealth Services
Horton Community Hospital in Horton, KS, recently completed a full decade of partnership with KUCTT in offering a vital range of available telemedicine and telehealth services. Located almost due north of Topeka and just east of the Kickapoo Indian reservation, Horton’s rural location makes it a major provider of vital health resources for the entire northeast region of Kansas.
Since 1997, a full team of Horton Community Hospital professionals, including nurses, administrative personnel and technical support staff, have worked closely with Kansas University Medical Center physicians to provide much-needed clinical services – including programs like Cardiology, Oncology, Dermatology, and Diet & Nutrition.
Even today, over a decade later, this team continues to “lead the way” - providing telemedicine and on-site services that might not otherwise be available to rural parts of northeast Kansas. Congratulations!
TeleHelp Training
Expands School Mental Health Resources
On March 12, 2008, the TeleHelp program presented Mental Health and School Concerns to thirty-six nurses from the Kansas City Kansas Public School system. The presentation builds on KUCTT’s long-term relationship with the USD500 school district through the school-based telemedicine program, TeleKidcare, and through the Connected Kansas Kids initiative. TeleKidcare provider Dr. Eve-Lynn Nelson presented Stress Management and Schools and Connected Kansas Kids manager Dr. Kathy Davis presented Educational Supports for Mental Health Concerns. The presentations were a springboard for lively and insightful school nurse discussion about challenges seen at school everyday. School nurses shared ideas for helping students and KUMC providers took back lessons to consider in their telemedicine clinics.
In addition to KUCTT support, the educational program was generously funded by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City. The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) East office, headquartered in Pittsburg, KS, provided continuing education support for the event. As the outreach office and program of the University of Kansas Medical Center, the AHEC awarded participating nurses 3.0 contact hours for relicensure.
Southeast Kansas:
Pediatric Physical Therapy Now Available
For Children With Disabilities & Delays
The Southeast Kansas Birth to Three Program, based at Parsons State Hospital in Parsons, KS, and KUCTT are pleased to announce that a monthly pediatric physical therapy clinic for children with various disabilities and delays will now be locally available through a video telehealth transmission from the KU Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City. Susan Cannon, a physical therapist with the Center for Child Health and Development at KUMC, will lead the sessions beginning April 21st.
Both the Southeast Kansas Birth to Three Program and
the Center for Child Health and Development are dedicated to
providing diagnosis, treatment, and assistance for infants,
toddlers, and parents of children with developmental difficulties.
For additional information regarding the monthly physical therapy
sessions, call the office of the Southeast Kansas Birth to
Three Program at 620-421-6550, Ext 1641.
Kansas Telemedicine Reimbursement Task Force
Kansas Commissioner of Insurance Sandy Praeger has established a Telemedicine Task Force for the state of Kansas to study telemedicine issues and develop appropriate policies for telemedicine-delivered health services. This task force is one outcome of KUCTT’s efforts in improving telemedicine insurance reimbursement over the last year, beginning with HB 2065 and the follow-up Reimbursement Impact Study. Ryan Spaulding, Director of KUCTT, was appointed to serve on this task force. It is hoped that this committee will serve an important role in improving Kansans’ access to quality health care through improved coverage of telemedicine services.
FCC Rural Health Care Pilot Project
KUCTT is working with several state agencies to help construct a Kansas health care network exclusively for rural delivery of telemedicine and other health technology services. This network will be called the Kansas Health Information Network (KHIN). Many of the costs for KHIN will be supported through funding allocated by a recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) award made to the State of Kansas for a three-year pilot project.
Kansas hospitals that are currently connected members of Kan-ed will remain Kan-ed members and will be transitioned to the KHIN over the next several months. Additional hospitals seeking connection to this network will soon be able to request service via a centralized request mechanism. All Kansas hospitals that participate in Kan-ed/KHIN will provide a Letter of Agency (LOA) for the FCC project.
More details about the LOA and the KHIN project will be coming soon.