Great Plains TRAC Forum http://www.gptracforum.org/ This is an XML content feed of; Great Plains TRAC Forum : Last 10 Posts Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:01:49 +0000 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:35:07 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.08 30 www.gptracforum.org/RSS_topic_feed.asp Great Plains TRAC Forum http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_images/gptraclogo.gif http://www.gptracforum.org/ Program Justification and Evaluation : How do I Justify Telemedicine in my organization http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=27&PID=52#52 Author: Stuart Speedie
Subject: How do I Justify Telemedicine in my organization
Posted: 11 August 2008 at 6:35am

Telemedicine and Telehealth uses are usually justified in terms of clinical benefits to patients, convenience to patients and financial benefits to the organization.  Patients seem to be almost uniformly pleased with the convenience of telemedicine and there is growing evidence of its clinical benefit.  However the bottom line for most hospitals focuses on the questions of cost and revenues.  The basic questions are:  Will the costs of providing telemedicine at least equal the revenue that can be generated and is this the best use of the scarce resources we have?

We believe and have collected some evidence that for rural hospitals the generated revenues exceed the costs due to three reasons:  1)  The patients remain in the community and can be provided future services,  2) rural hospitals can receive a small facility fee to help cover some costs and 3) many types of telehealth services require local ancillary services such as lab work that generates additional revenue for the organization.

To get this discussion started let me ask what you think?  Is this a powerful argument for telemedicine in your organization?  Why or why not?

I look forward to your comments and any questions that you might have.

Stuart
]]> Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:35:07 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=27&PID=52#52 Clinical : Telepresenter http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=26&PID=51#51 Author: Marilyn Dahler
Subject: Telepresenter
Posted: 29 July 2008 at 9:41am

What do you consider to be the basic skills or education level for a telepresenter?  (telepresenter - person assisting with the clinical exam at the patient location) ]]> Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:41:33 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=26&PID=51#51 Building Program Awareness : Building Awareness http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=23&PID=48#48 Author: Mary DeVany
Subject: Building Awareness
Posted: 15 July 2008 at 3:07pm

What activities have you done to help people in your organization be more aware of the telehealth services available?

]]> Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:07:07 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=23&PID=48#48 Distance Education : NRTRC Educational Opportunities http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=22&PID=47#47 Author: Chad Thoreson
Subject: NRTRC Educational Opportunities
Posted: 07 July 2008 at 9:36am

The Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center is partnering with other telehealth networks and Resource Centers to offer the following programs:
 
1. NRTRC 2-Part Workshop (VTC) – Successfully Negotiating the Universal Services Process
(Rescheduled to August 29th and September 5th; 12:00-1:00 Pacific Time)
Cost to attend both workshops is $50/site, $250/network
 
If you’re rural, utilizing telemedicine or e-health applications, and not taking advantage of the Universal Services program, you may be missing out on free money for your telecommunications services. You’re probably one of many who’ve heard it’s confusing, time consuming, and difficult to navigate the application process. A 465 form, an evergreen contract, an FCC RN#, where does one start? With a good understanding of the program and a successful plan, it’s likely you’ll save your organization thousands of precious healthcare dollars each year for each qualifying telecommunications circuit and internet services.
 
Workshop Content
  • Overview of the Universal Services Program
    • Program overview & process
    • Terminology & forms utilized
    • Applicant eligibility
  • Navigating the Process
    • Timelines
    • Application tracking
    • Requied information to get started
    • Tools to help you manage your application
    • Forms completion
  • Keeping Clean & Getting Help
    • Preparing for an audit
    • Keeping records
    • Dealing with telco's
    • Monthly calls
    • Filing appeals
2. Achieving Telehealth Sustainability through Distance Education: CEU Savvy
Presented by the Midwest Alliance for Telehealth & Technology Resources-MATTeR
July 7th at 11:00 AM Pacific/2:00 PM Eastern
To attend the live event visit: https://gomeet.itap.purdue.edu/matter/
Visit the MATTeR website after the program to watch the presentation at your convenience: www.midwesttrc.org
 
3. Product Evaluation – Dr. Stewart Ferguson (Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network)
From June 23rd, 2008
Slides available through the NRTRC website: http://www.nrtrc.org/News/documents/presentations/Ferguson_-_Product_Selection_v3.pdf
On-Demand Replay: http://services.choruscall.com/links/ctel080623.html
 
Dr. Ferguson did an outstanding job of discussing the need for selecting “the right technology” as well as understanding that product selection is really the 1st step in the process, it doesn’t end there!
 
4. What it takes to make telehealth programs succeed (a study)
 
The University of Michigan is offering you an opportunity to participate in a study and receive the generalized results of this important topic to all telehealth programs.
To participate in the 20 minute study, go directly to the link:  http://research.adv.msu.edu/ss/wsb.dll/holtz/Telehealth.htm
Contact: Dr. Pamela Whitten/Bree Holtz (517)432-1412


Edited by Chad Thoreson - 07 July 2008 at 9:50am]]> Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:36:34 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=22&PID=47#47 Great Plains TRAC Conference 2008 : Conference Results http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=13&PID=24#24 Author: Chad Thoreson
Subject: Conference Results
Posted: 02 July 2008 at 1:13pm

The 2008 Great Plains TRAC Conference in Sioux Falls went off without a hitch! Telehealth professionals from the midwest attended and presented their experiences with telehealth. South Dakota State Senator John Thune, a champion of telehealth, spoke as the keynote speaker.
 
Some numbers from the conference include:
 
Attendees: 140
From: 13 States
Speakers: 28
Plenary Sessions: 12
Break Out Sessions: 6
]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:13:05 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=13&PID=24#24 Reimbursement : 6331 Bill Passed with Provisions for Telehealth http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=12&PID=23#23 Author: Chad Thoreson
Subject: 6331 Bill Passed with Provisions for Telehealth
Posted: 02 July 2008 at 12:53pm

H.R. 6331 Bill Passes, Includes Provisions for Telehealth

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6331: Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 on June 24, 2008. This bill amends titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and for other purposes.

Presently, Medicare payments are scheduled to decrease by 10.6 percent but this bill will increase spending on physician services to keep payment consistent with the growth of the national economy.

According to the American Telemedicine Association:

“This bill contains provisions adding skilled nursing facilities, hospital-based dialysis centers, and community mental health centers as originating sites for Medicare telehealth reimbursement.”

Skilled nursing and hospital-based dialysis provisions are in the compromise bill although the community mental health centers provision has yet to be confirmed.

The origional article from ATA can be found here.
 
 


Edited by Chad Thoreson - 14 July 2008 at 1:18pm]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:53:05 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=12&PID=23#23 Distance Education : Distance Education Challenges? http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=10&PID=21#21 Author: Karissa Weber
Subject: Distance Education Challenges?
Posted: 02 July 2008 at 9:51am

We all run into different obstacles as we deal with new technology, training speakers, and other topics. What is the biggest challenge as a site coordinator in Distance Education?

Edited by Karissa Weber - 02 July 2008 at 9:54am]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:51:56 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=10&PID=21#21 Great Plains TRAC Conference 2009 : 2009 Conference Announcement http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=9&PID=20#20 Author: Chad Thoreson
Subject: 2009 Conference Announcement
Posted: 02 July 2008 at 9:46am

The 2009 Great Plains TRAC Conference will be in Minneapolis, Minnesota July 16-17.

Edited by Chad Thoreson - 09 July 2008 at 1:56pm]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:46:09 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=9&PID=20#20 Great Plains TRAC Conference 2008 : Favorite Speaker? http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=8&PID=19#19 Author: Chad Thoreson
Subject: Favorite Speaker?
Posted: 02 July 2008 at 9:42am

Who was your favorite speaker and/or topic at the 2008 Great Plains TRAC Conference and why?
 
The topics and speakers were:
  • Legislative Issues with Jayna Bonfini
  • Imlpementing the Minnesota Telehealth Network with Cindy Uselman and Robin Klemek
  • Achieving Sustainability With Distance Education with Luanne Skrenes, RN, BSN
  • Home Monitoring with John Williams and Michella Sybesma
  • Telehealth Champions with Gary Davis, PhD and David Pautz
  • Impact of Telehealth with Gene Reich and Corrine McCulloch
  • Family Advocacy Network with Wanda Kjar-Hunt and Lesley Bollwit
  • Telemedicine Network Development with Christine Martin, MBA, PMP
  • Telehealth at Work Outside our Region with Thelma McClosky Armstrong
  • Telehealth Bytes with Carol Rosenbaum
  • Tele-Pediatric Echoes with Doug Wuebben
  • Telepharmacy: Aberdeen Area Indian Health Service with Capt. Mike Forman
  • Telemedicine Adoption in Rural Communities with William John Saaristo
  • Collaborating for Success with Wanda Kjar-Hunt and Kathy Gosch
  • Networking - Building the Network with Ted McCann
  • How Avera eICU CARE Improves Critical Care with Pat Herr, RN
  • USAC - Rural Health Care Program with Camelia Rogers
  • From Strategic Planning to Project Management with Jean Reed and Suzy Collignon-Hodgen

More information about the speaker's sessions can be found here.

Their presentations can be found here. (Login is required)


Edited by Chad Thoreson - 02 July 2008 at 1:26pm]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:42:46 +0000 http://www.gptracforum.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=8&PID=19#19