2004 HealthMart Conference - Keynote Description
"Crossing the Quality Chasm: How do we get there from here?"
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Session Description - Luncheon Keynote:
"Telemedicine and Quality Improvement"
Telemedicine's Opportunities for Quality & Access |
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Using communications technologies for the efficient transfer of physician knowledge and experience is enhancing the quality of care and substantially increasing access, according to Joseph C. Kvedar, MD, founder and Director of Partners Telemedicine and Vice Chair of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Kvedar will deliver the luncheon keynote speech, "Telemedicine and Quality Improvement," during the Consortium's 2004 HealthMart Conference, "Crossing the Quality Chasm: How do we get there from here?" on Friday, October 29, at the Westin Copley Place.
Dr. Kvedar initially became involved in telemedicine in 1995, while working on a project examining the utility of digital imaging in dermatology.
"I realized the power of communications technologies in improving health care access while increasing efficiency at the same time," he said. "My interest in the field since has been focused and unwavering."
In his own practice, Dr. Kvedar uses telemedicine to conduct a weekly teledermatology clinic for the citizens of Nantucket. "The year-round island population has been unable to recruit a dermatologist for many years, and the incidence of skin cancer is high, so the need is great," he said.
Meanwhile, Partners Telemedicine is recognized globally for excellence and leadership in the emerging field of telemedicine. The department manages remote teleconsultations in all specialties, benefiting patients in more than 30 countries. It also coordinates clinical and educational videoconferences and multimedia productions that link and provide information to health care providers globally.
Partners Telemedicine investigates novel approaches to lower-extremity wound care, stroke management, post-operative care in the home, Web-based specialty consultations, remote monitoring of patients with chronic diseases and remote echocardiography.
In a study published in the British Medical Journal, Partners Telemedicine showed that the care plan changes substantially in 90 percent of cases where Partners specialists conduct an online consultation.
Partners Telemedicine also has been a pioneer in bringing health care to the developing world. "An ongoing installation in Cambodia has allowed citizens to access U.S. heath care expertise without traveling even to the nearest provincial hospital," said Dr. Kvedar.
In collaboration with Partners' Homecare group, Partners Telemedicine showed that an application using digital images and a Web site for wound management allowed a nursing wound expert to offer her opinion on wound care to four-to-five times the number of homebound patients who would be reached otherwise.
"Also, in collaboration with our Homecare group, we have shown that physiologic monitoring of our sickest heart-failure patients improves their quality of care and quality of life at decreased cost," he said.
Dr. Kvedar sees informatics applications representing a much-needed initial advance that will enable clinicians to get access to the most current information in order to aid decision making.
If you would like additional information on sponsorship opportunities for this or other events, please contact Arleen Coletti, Director of Member & Exhibiting Services via e-mail or by phone 781-768-2512.
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