Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center is offering telemedicine services to movement disorders patients, via a new program.
The medical center implemented the program in May after completing quality testing of the telehealth service. A number of neurologists at the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center at Rush are participating in the program.
Patients with movement disorders are particularly suited to receiving care via telemedicine, due to the fact that traveling to make an appointment may be hard for them. Also, diagnosis and treatment for these disorders are based heavily on visual assessments instead of tests and scans.
Movement disorders patients who want to use the telemedicine service must have high-speed internet, a webcam and appropriate software at home as well as a blood pressure cuff. After the teleconference, the patient receive a summary of the appointment.