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Often times when a patient needs to see a specialist, local residents must travel long distances to get the care they need.
The medical team at the Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center, located inside U.P. Health System—Portage, is trying a new approach for patients at their Pediatrics Clinic—bringing the specialist to them using video interface technology.
Pediatrician for the UGL Family Health Center Dr. Colleen Vallad-Hix says the technology allows the patient, specialist and the primary care giver to all meet at the same time.
The hospital is partnered with the Michigan State University Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders.
Patients get their checkup from specialists like Doctor Roshni Kulkarni…who is a leader in the field of pediatric hematology as well as a pioneer in the use of telemedicine.
Treatments can be performed locally under the supervision of the specialty doctor without anyone having to travel far from home.
The clinic has been using the system for about a year. Soon, telemedicine is expected to be utilized in many other medical fields as well.
