Bennington-based Southwestern Vermont Medical Center has initiated a telemedicine program with Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth-Hitchcock.
The program involves implementing telemedicine services for three departments — neurology, emergency care and the intensive care unit. The program features a live two-way audio-video camera and a Wi-Fi-enabled monitor.
The teleneurology program went live in April. It gives patients and SVMC providers access to a "board-certified neurologist whenever we need one," said Trey Dobson, MD, CMO at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center and medical director of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Putnam Physicians.
The teleemergency services went online in May, allowing SVMC emergency physicians to call upon emergency telespecialists and Dartmouth-Hitchcock physicians. The telespecialists also help SVMC emergency physicians complete routine tasks on the computer.
The ICU telemedicine service is expected to begin in the fall. The service will include 24/7 continuous monitoring by ICU intensivist physicians and nurses to support SVMC physicians and staff. Due to the service, critically ill patients will be able to stay at SVMC rather than transfer to a larger healthcare facility.