What is Telehealth?
The Nebraska Statewide Telehealth
Network (Telehealth) is an easy to use interactive
video and data network that provides face-to-face
interaction among the hospitals, public health
departments, public health laboratories and other
entities across the entire state of Nebraska to
support clinical health care, patient and professional
health related education, public health and health
administration.
Telehealth / Telemedicine represents
a valuable resource for delivering health –
related services to remote, underserved areas,
providing greater access to health care for consumers
and health professionals.
Objective
The Nebraska Statewide Telehealth
Network (NSTN) provides the opportunity for all hospitals and
public health departments to connect, providing access
to consultations with medical specialists, continuing
medical education, transmission of digital clinical
information, bioterrorism alerts and training for homeland
security and other emergency management issues.
Mission
To increase the quality, availability
and accessibility of healthcare throughout the State
of Nebraska, particularly as it impacts the rural population
within the state.
This video-conferencing capability
is particularly important in allowing the rural areas
of the state to have access to other health providers
and information without the need for extensive travel.
The Nebraska Statewide Telehealth Network
seeks to bring together invaluable resources to improve
the readiness of the state to deal with terrorist acts
and threats as well as naturally occurring disasters.
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Quick Links and Contacts
If interested in meetings or conferences,
clinical opportunities or discussing other opportunities
available, please contact:
Faith Regional University
2700 W. Norfolk Ave.
Norfolk, Nebraska 68701
(402) 644-7347
fx: (402) 844-8127
Email: frhstelehealth@frhs.org |
Benefits
The Nebraska Statewide Telehealth
Network will implement the vision of a high-speed
health video telecommunication information system capable
of erasing distance as a barrier to access high quality
health care for all people in Nebraska. Research shows
that Telehealth telecommunications services will:
- Increase the ability to diagnose
patients' illnesses
- Improve the quality and administration
of medical services
- Strengthen rural physician’s
ties to specialty care
- Alleviate the isolation of
rural providers
- Enhance the ability to attract
and retain primary care physicians, medical professionals
and support staff
- Facilitate the training of
health professionals in rural communities
- Enable patients to stay close
to home for their care
- Improve access to consultations
with mental health practitioners, radiologists, and
other medical specialists.
In addition, the NSTN will enable the delivery of bioterrorism
alerts and training to hospitals and public health departments
across the state.
Goals
Initially, Telehealth's goals will
bring all hospitals in the state together to:
- Provide clinical consultation
- Continuing Education
- Provide for administrative connections
Long Term Goals:
- Provide a structure that can bring together
resources beyond just those of healthcare to create an
environment of sharing of resources throughout the State
of Nebraska.
- Invite other potential partners in
this network, including education at various levels (elementary
through post-secondary and community education), various
governmental agencies, whether local, regional, state
or national.
- Develop an organizational structure
that supports these goals in a cost effective, efficient
and sustainable fashion.
Telehealth Connections
Videoconferencing allows Telehealth connections
from Faith Regional to:
- Most hospitals in Nebraska
- Most Public Health Departments
in Nebraska
- Medical universities in
Nebraska
- Almost any other location
that uses Telehealth
Potential Users
- Physicians
- Patients
- Administrators
- Clinical Staff
- Support Groups
- Residents
The Telehealth Network is a private
network for non-profit health-related usage only. It
does not allow either commercial internet usage or Voice
over IP phone system usage.
Network Hospitals and Public Health Departments
Faith Regional Health Services is a
Hub Site for the following ten Northeast Nebraska Hospitals and three Public Health Departments:
- West Holt Memorial - Atkinson, Nebraska
- Creighton Area Health Services - Creighton, Nebraska
- Niobrara Valley Hospital - Lynch, Nebraska
- Antelope Memorial Hospital - Neligh, Nebraska
- Osmond General Hospital - Osmond, Nebraska
- Pender Community Hospital - Pender, Nebraska
- Plainview Area Health System - Plainview, Nebraska
- Tilden Community Hospital - Tilden, Nebraska
- Providence Medical Center - Wayne, Nebraska
- St. Francis Memorial Hospital - West Point, Nebraska
* Remember –
you can connect to any hospital or public health department in the state. |
