My Telehealth Podcasts

“We don’t talk about addiction, we talk about recovery.” Dr. Victor Archambeau is tired of seeing the negative aspects of addiction plastered everywhere. The problem is evident particularly in his area, Horry County, which he says is “ground zero” for SC with over 100 overdose deaths in one year.

A new law that went into effect July 1 drastically changed the way advanced practice nurses can provide care in South Carolina.

Senate Bill 345, which Gov. Henry McMaster signed into law earlier this year, eliminated the 45-mile limit for advanced practice nurses (APRNs) to provide care. Prior to the new law, APRNs had to be within a 45-mile radius of a supervising physician in order to practice.

Dozens of students participate in an after-school program at Hopkins Elementary School in rural Richland County. After most of their classmates have gone home for the day, these kids go to the library. Plates, pasta shells, and measuring cups are scattered across the tables. And they’re focused on the TV.

Most of us who live in the United States have the ability to access some type of medical service. Hopefully, we wouldn’t be faced with the task of walking over 120 miles to receive care. For some people though, that is the only option. In Masindi, Uganda, if you don’t have transportation and have a medical emergency, you may never make it to the clinic in time much less be able to afford the services.

As technology changes the way patients and health care providers see each other, it’s also changing how our doctors document our health records.

More practices in South Carolina are using telehealth equipment, allowing clinicians to connect to patients through video. The South Carolina Telehealth Alliance’s Michael Haschker says integrating an electronic medical records system into that equipment is crucial for the success of any telehealth program.

Seconds count when it comes to a suicidal patient and getting them to the care they need. EMS personnel often find themselves dealing with mental health patients. Because they do not have psychiatry expertise, EMS often has to transport these patients to the ER where they will sit until they can get a correct diagnosis. However, this could take hours and leads to the emergency vehicles being tied up while they may be needed for more urgent needs in their county.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 16,000 South Carolinians lived in nursing homes in 2015.

Some nursing home residents can still be mostly independent, while others require constant care. Dr. Russ Blackwelder, the associate medical director at The Village at Summerville, says his patients will do better if they stay in their home environment and avoid the hospital whenever they can.

But the doctor can’t be at the facility 24/7, and for years that meant automatic hospital trips for patients that needed to be seen.

Each year, Palmetto Care Connections hosts an Annual Telehealth Summit of South Carolina. 

2018 marks the sixth annual summit. The summit brings together providers, payers, and policy makers. During the summit, major players in healthcare recognize wins and discuss telehealth on both a national and local level.

This flu season has been more aggressive than usual. DHEC says more than 3,400 people have been hospitalized with the flu so far this season, and at least 128 people in South Carolina have died, including a child. Health officials are urging everyone older than 6 months to get vaccinated if they haven’t done so, and to see a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms.

When it comes to telehealth implementation, broadband access can be vital for a quality connection. Local and federal officials weigh in on its significance and some efforts to reduce reported disparities.

In 2016, the Greenwood Genetics Center began using telehealth to combat a national and local geneticist shortage. Through video conferencing, patients and families are able to schedule appointments when a geneticist might not be available otherwise.

It is estimated that about 400,000 of the 4.8 million people in South Carolina have diabetes. That’s about 10% of the population. Diabetes self-management education is a critical element of care for people with diabetes. To help overcome transportation and distance barriers for people in rural areas of the state, some healthcare sites have adopted an innovative solution.

The South Carolina Department of Corrections aims to cut costs and increase public safety by minimizing inmate medical transports. They will begin using telehealth at five of their facilities, to connect Medical University of South Carolina providers to inmates over video.

Many schools in South Carolina are using technology to expand student care. Through a telehealth cart, students can connect to local providers at their nurse’s office. The goal is to bring convenience to families, facilitate continuum of care and increase access to quality care.

A group of doctors, academics, public health and government officials gathered at the South Carolina State House this week. Their goal is to expand the reach and capabilities of telehealth services in the state. At a press conference in the State House lobby, stakeholders spoke on the importance of telehealth in the state and the significance of the governor’s distinction.

State Mental Health Director John Magill reading Governor Henry McMaster’s proclamation in the lobby of the State House.

Patients seeking treatment for a rare digestive disorder called Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) might have multiple tests and appointments per year. A pediatric gastroenterologist in Greenville has turned to video, for connecting to distant South Carolina patients, saving them a trip for follow-up appointments.

In Williamsburg County, finding a specialized doctor can be difficult. Many residents live miles away from a health care provider, going without adequate medical care. A telehealth network was established in multiple sites across the county to help residents access the services they need.

In order to meet the needs of her patients, an occupational therapist at the Medical University of South Carolina teamed up with technical experts from Clemson to create tool to engage patients in the clinic and at home. Through a virtual therapy session, patients can play a game to meet their therapy goals, different than traditional care.

Faced with a changing healthcare landscape, medical schools across the state are implementing telehealth education to their curriculum. The American Medical Association supports telehealth training for future medical professionals, and encourages the adoption of innovative programs that may improve the way care is delivered to communities across the country.​

Even though burns are a leading pediatric injury in South Carolina, there is only one burn center in the state. At the Medical University of South Carolina they see patients from all parts of the state. Most recently, some of the patients do not have to travel as far, as the hospital has been expanding the use of remote consultations using telemedicine.

A home-monitoring program is allowing high-risk patients stay out of the hospital. With telehealth, patients submit vital signs to their doctor, in the comfort of their own home. Through daily measurements the doctors monitor any sudden changes, while patients adopt healthy habits to last a lifetime.

In South Carolina, rural communities are struggling with access to mental health care. In many places, there is a shortage of psychiatrists to attend people in need of services. To serve those with mental illness in distant, rural communities, the South Carolina Department of Mental Health adopted an innovative solution: tele-psychiatry.

South Carolina faces many disparities in health care, specialists in the industry affirm. Issues related to cost, transportation and shortages of providers reach into every corner of the Palmetto State. In order to address the problem, numerous hospitals and clinics are tapping into telehealth, a way to provide care remotely.