The
past 10 years the Telecare Network has had significant growth and
development as well as gained valuable experience. We have encountered many challenges
in addressing key issues related to telemedicine such as licensing,
reimbursement, credentialing, lack of understanding of the technology’s
capabilities, physician support, and the fast rate of network growth.
We have
been successful in working through some of these and will continue
dealing with these issues on an ongoing basis. The support from physician
specialists has been outstanding! In spite of the lack of reimbursement
from major payers in the state during the first year of the program,
these specialists have been very willing to consult with their rural
colleagues and have been supportive of this new service. Now that
reimbursement is available by many 3rd party payers, use of telemedicine
is becomint even more integrated into the daily practice of the physician
specialists.
We are committed to continued
development of the existing network that will meet the needs of the
physicians and patients it serves. We will encourage network members
to provide input on this cooperative strategic plan as well as implementing
their own strategic plan, with goals and objectives that we can work
together on implementing. Together, all network members have a common
goal: To provide quality health care services at the local level
that will best serve the needs of the community.