Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #101675

Mark Carroll, MD, Office of Information Technology, Indian Health Service, 1215 N. Beaver Street, Suite 201, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, 928-214-3920, mark.carroll@ihs.gov

Telehealth Care is a quality initiative for the Indian Health Service. New telehealth technologies are vital tools in performance improvement projects aimed at elevating the health care status for all American Indian/Alaska Native people served. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Telehealth Care has improved health care delivery for many Indian health programs. These improvements include:

1)enhanced access to specialist consultation for tele-radiology, tele-psychiatry, tele-dermatology, tele-ophthalmology, tele-cardiology and over 20 other clinical specialties;

2)innovative outreach for mobile health services and community-based chronic disease management; and

3)distance learning offerings for health care professionals.

More than 200 Tribal facilities connected to the Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network (AFHCAN) have telehealth access to specialist consultation. Another 81 IHS Service Units and Tribal facilities connected to regional broadband telecommunication networks in the “lower 48” United States report clinical telehealth activity.

PLANS Many American Indian and Alaska Native beneficiaries experience interruptions or delays in care because they live in rural or underserved communities. The IHS Telehealth Care Initiative uses modern information technology to bridge the gap dividing families in need from critical evaluation and treatment services. The Initiative:

1) seeks opportunities to improve cost efficient access to quality health care, timely medical decision-making, and distance learning;

2) encourages business process modeling to better identify new opportunities for clinical care and education (e.g. “ViRtual Centers of Excellence)

3)identifies and develops partnerships with other federal, state, and private organizations;

4)promotes the successful integration and evaluation of Telehealth Care into the routine delivery of health care.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the sessison, the participants will

• Understand diverse use of telehealth care tools in Indian health settings
• Identify opportunities for quality improvement in public health care using telehealth technologies

Keywords: Population, Information Technology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.