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

Abstract #112146

Susan Dimmick, PhD, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Project Manager, Health Education Specialist, Mailstop 10, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117, 865.241.3584, dimmicks@orau.gov and Karen Fox, PhD, University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Assistant Dean, College of Medicine, 877 Madison Avenue, Room 789, Memphis, Tennessee, TN 38163.

A dozen public and community health clinics in west, middle and east Tennessee were equipped with videoconferencing units using ISDN (integrated services digital network) and/or POTS (plain old telephone system) to screen for tuberculosis, and to help diabetics, heart patients and school-age asthmatics learn to self-manage their conditions. Guidelines from Healthy People 2010 were used to set goals and objectives for participants in these programs. There was close collaboration with public health departments. Significant improvements in blood sugar control, as measured by a critical indicator called the HbA1C lab test, were achieved. Congestive heart failure (CHF) patients were able to stay in their own homes longer, and had fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits for CHF. Child asthmatics were “seen” at their local health clinics while they remained in their schools. This was accomplished through two-way videoconferencing using POTS. Education about TB recognition, and education about diet, exercise and stress control were an integral part of these programs. We found that incremental education over time improved self-management, and that the availability of video was crucial in some patients' homes for both monitoring and for demonstrating what the clinic nurses were trying to teach. Results from these current projects and predictions about where technology can take public health and community health clinics are discussed, as well as how telehealth technologies are creating better access and improving the health of rural Americans.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Recognize how telecommunications technology can by used by public and community health clinics to address priority problems, such as diabetes, asthma, and heart conditions, as well as TB control
• Understand how Healthy People 2010 goals and objectives can be integrated with community health goals to develop an outcomes-based telehealth program
• Create an action plan for using telehealth technologies to create better access and quality of care for rural patients

Keywords: Telehealth, Outcome Measures

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.