The Challenge
Chase County Community Hospital, a 15-bed critical access hospital in Imperial, Nebraska, has faced a number of challenges similar to those confronted by many other rural health systems. Chief among them was a growing shortage of physicians, a problem projected to worsen in the coming years.
The Proposal
Chase began looking into telehealth vendor Avel eCare’s emergency service line for the ED after one of the hospital’s APPs came to CEO Abby Cyboron with a video about the technology and service and said they loved the idea of having someone live to help with questions.
Meeting the Challenge
Chase introduced telemedicine in phases as different needs arose. It began using telemedicine in the pharmacy and later expanded to include emergency and hospitalists. Now Chase is adding behavioral health services to the ED in response to the current mental health crisis.
Results
When Chase dove into telemedicine, cost savings was never a driving force. It was always about providing the best medical care in the ER and making sure the facility had appropriate coverage based on the regulations. However, unintentionally, telemedicine has actually resulted in significant cost savings.
Advice for Others
Cyboron’s biggest piece of advice to a hospital or health system considering a telemedicine system is to get buy-in from providers. She said this is key, and that Chase would not be using – and expanding its use of – telemedicine without the support of its clinicians.
Conclusion
Telemedicine has given Chase County Community Hospital peace of mind, knowing that there is someone available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to support its medical staff in whatever capacity they need.
FAQs
Q: What was the main challenge faced by Chase County Community Hospital?
A: The main challenge was a growing shortage of physicians, a problem projected to worsen in the coming years.
Q: How did Chase County Community Hospital address the challenge?
A: Chase began looking into telehealth vendor Avel eCare’s emergency service line for the ED.
Q: What are the benefits of telemedicine for Chase County Community Hospital?
A: Telemedicine has allowed the hospital to have a physician available around the clock, reducing the pressure on its local physician and also reducing the amount of contract physicians needed.
Q: What advice would you give to a hospital or health system considering a telemedicine system?
A: Get buy-in from providers, think about the technology offered, and consider patient privacy, security, and regulatory compliance.
