Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake adds mobile X-ray service, Avera eCARE
Anne Reese, administrator at Good Samaritan Society of Mountain Lake recently announced the addition of a pair on-site technology services.
The first is a mobile X-ray service, provided PPS (Professional Portable X-ray) of Fairmont. This will enable the local facilities to bring X-ray equipment directly to a resident’s room, rather than sending them out to a clinic or hospital. PPX offers mobile diagnostic imaging testing through a complete digital technology platform and web-based systems that can be integrated with any hospital or health system for immediate sharing of images, reports and medical records.
The second is access to physician services around the clock via two-way video and computer technology through Avera eCARE. This service allows the Good Samaritan nursing staff to consult a physician, nurse practitioner or pharmacist or day or night. The helps take the load off local primary-care doctors who are already over-loaded or want an uninterrupted night of sleep. This, however, does NOT replace the primary physician.
Avera eCARE supports facilities by:
- Supporting on-site staff members and services.
- Deliving fast response to patients’ health needs, including urgent and critical care.
- Helping avoid unnecessary transfers.
- Reducing patient travel time and expense by improving care for residents where they live.
- Coordinating referrals to additionial medical specialists.
Beginning in 1993, Avera offered eConsult services to rural, frontier and critical access hospitals that were part of the Avera Health system. Ten years later, eCARE expanded to provide eICU care, the first 24-hour, on-demand service that allows staff at partner facilities to connect virtually via a video and audio call for immediate assistance from board-certified providers. In addition, Avera eCARE delivered 24/7 access to a wide range of medical specialists and referrals to specialty care for a growing number of underserved populations and communities.
Then, in 2009, through a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, Avera eCARE launched eEmergency and ePharmacy for all of Avera’s rural hospitals. Additional funding from the Helmsley Charitable Trust and other sources allowed expansion to over 200 Avera facilities across eight states and the ability to serve partners outside Avera Health. By 2012, eCARE services were available for long-term care and correctional facilities.
At Avera eCARE, telemedicine professionals work together 24/7 in the eHELM, the virtual hospital hub, also created in 2012 with the assistance of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. By staffing the central facility around the clock, Avera’s partners and patients benefit from the multidisciplinary collaboration of medical specialists within the telemedicine teams 24/7/365.
Both of these services and the respective equipment will be demonstrated on Friday, March 24, at 4 p.m., in the Good Samaritan Chapel.
