A Doctor hand is coming through a computer screen while holding the end of a stethoscope

Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital's Telemedicine

Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient's clinical health status. Telemedicine includes a growing variety of applications and services using two-way video, email, smart phones, wireless tools and other forms of telecommunications technology.  What are the benefits of offering telemedicine services?  Telemedicine allows our residents to have access to specialized services that are not offered in our community.  Given the physician shortages throughout the world--in both rural and urban areas--telemedicine has a unique capacity to increase service to new patients.  In addition to increased access, telemedicine provides cost efficiencies.  Telemedicine has been shown to reduce the cost of health care and increase efficiency through better management of chronic diseases, reduced travel times, and fewer or shorter hospital stays.

Nell J. Redfield Memorial Hospital has been on the cutting edge of technology for several years, providing specialty services to the Malad community.  Back in 2008, we started offering adult psychiatry to our residents.  Using completely secure and safe HIPAA technology, we connected to Portneuf Medical Center.  In addition to adult psychiatry, NJRMH offers tele-oncology.  Patients with cancer are able to receive chemotherapy administration with oversight from an oncologist from Pocatello.  We are excited that we are able to keep the patients local and receive the same care they would receive in another city.

NJRMH is working diligently to bring additional services to the area.  We are considering other telemedicine applications such as dermatology, ENT, burn, and stroke.