MOUNTAIN VIEW, Mo., June 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For years, heart problems have brought Donald Smith face to face with his Mercy cardiologist. During his recent visit, however, the doctor never set foot in Donald's exam room.

"Oh, he was definitely there," said the 74-year-old from Willow Springs, Missouri. "I sat there, looking at him and he was looking at me, talking just like he would if he were in the room with me. It was just like any other visit I've had – but virtual."

Smith made the same short, familiar drive to Mercy St. Francis Hospital for his regular visit with Dr. Paul Freiman. This time, it was through a one-on-one video connection, powered by Mercy Virtual.

To learn more about Mercy's virtual visits, check http://www.ksdk.com/news/health/wednesday-virtual-house-calls/164662150.

"It's very much like the real thing," said Dr. Freiman. "Instead of one stethoscope, we're using two – Donald's nurse in Mountain View is holding one and the other is in my hands, in Springfield. I'm able to get precise readings on breathing, heartbeat and more."

"At first, it was strange to think that he was listening to my heart, lungs and everything," Smith said. "He's about 100 miles away. It's just unbelievable."

Bluetooth technology allows for a secure video and audio connection between the two electronic stethoscopes. Data is simultaneously uploaded into Mercy's electronic health records.

"I can do everything in real time – review old charts, records, lab work and test results," Dr. Freiman said. "That data is then easier to access during Donald's next visit, saving him valuable time. In turn, I'm able to see more patients during the work day. It's a win-win."

The virtual visits, launched this spring, are already saving patients from traveling hundreds of miles to see a specialist for chronic cardiac diagnoses like heart disease and heart failure. In Smith's case, it's COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

"It makes me very susceptible to pneumonia, so I need to meet with the doctor a lot to make sure my medicines and care plan are up to speed," Smith said. "And I really don't like to drive a long ways. Mercy has made things a whole lot easier."

Primary care doctors or hospitalists must make the referral for Mercy Virtual. At the moment, Dr. Freiman is offering virtual visits with cardiac patients once a month, but plans to expand on that.

"Patients absolutely love it," said Dr. Martha Colville, hospitalist at Mercy St. Francis Hospital. "We're thrilled with any opportunity to provide excellent specialty care and better access."

In addition to telecardiology, Mercy St. Francis Hospital is also synced up with Mercy's Virtual Care Center, the only center of its kind, in St. Louis, Missouri. Doctors hundreds of miles away are able to provide an extra set of eyes to the medical surgical department in Mountain View.

"And we're just getting started," said Dr. Randy Moore, president of Mercy Virtual. "In today's world, a cardiologist might only be available in a community once a month, and traveling can take up valuable time. With virtual care, our goal is to get patients the care they need right away – any day of the month."

Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2016 by Truven, an IBM company, serves millions annually. Mercy includes 45 acute care and specialty (heart, children's, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, more than 700 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 40,000 co-workers and more than 2,000 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

With 10 years of telemedicine experience in intensive care and doctor's office consults, Mercy Virtual is taking those learnings home. A new program focuses on the sickest 5 percent of chronically ill patients, those who in and out of the hospital frequently, and those who spend the most money on health care.

The objective of the new Mercy Virtual program is to keep patients out of the hospital, out of the doctor's office and at healthy at home.

"Many times we know when something's happening with our patients before they recognize there's an issue," said Dr. Gavin Helton, medical director of Mercy Virtual Ambulatory. "We can adjust medications and save an expensive hospitalization."

Going forward, the virtual program is expected to double in size every few months.

SOURCE Mercy

Related Link https://www.mercy.net