TELEMEDICINE

What is Telemedicine?

Telemedicine is a way for your doctor to help connect you with a special camera that is hooked up to a computer in your doctor's office. This camera allows your doctor to connect to a specialty doctor in a different location to find out more about your medical condition.

How does telemedicine work?

Your doctor will tell you what will happen during the telemedicine visit. You will be asked to sign a form that says it's OK to have a telemedicine visit.

How long does it take?

Most telemedicine visits take from 15 to 30 minutes.

What are the two kinds of telemedicine visits?

• One kind of telemedicine visit joins you and your doctor directly to the specialty doctor by using your doctor's computer and the special camera. During this visit, the specialty doctor can see you and ask you and your doctor about your medical condition. This kind of visit lets your doctor talk with you about your condition, and suggest treatment.
• The second type of telemedicine visit uses the same computer and camera in your doctor's office. The specialty doctor doesn't see you or talk to you, because they're not available while you are seeing your doctor. Your doctor's camera takes pictures that are stored in the computer. These pictures, and any facts about your condition, are then sent by the computer to the specialty doctor's office. The specialty doctor can then look at your medical facts.

Together, the doctors suggest treatment for you. Your doctor will then talk to you about the results.

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Are there any health risks to me with Telemedicine?

No, there are no risks to your health when using Telemedicine. Some follow-up visits may be required. Following are some of the reasons for these follow-up visits:

• You may have to visit a specialty doctor in person even after the telemedicine visit.
• If there is a problem with the computer or camera, your telemedicine visit may not be able to be sent directly to the specialty doctor.
• We protect your medical information. However, just like paper medical records, electronic medical records may be lost, stolen or damaged. We take special care to make sure that doesn't happen.

What are the benefits of using telemedicine?

• It may be easier or quicker to "see" a specialty doctor without driving to another place.
• Your doctor can pick from a network of specialty doctors, no matter where you live.
• The specialty doctor can "see and talk" to you and your doctor at the same time.
• Your doctor can sent your medical information and pictures of your condition to a specialty doctor for a second opinion.
• Your doctor stays involved in your care.

How are the Tulare County Health Care Centers using Telemedicine?

Currently, Hillman Health Care Center in Tulare provides Telemedicine weekly, and can also provide same day appointments. At this time we are only doing dermatology clinics.

How do I get more information about telemedicine?

You can call Blue Cross of California at 1-800-227-3238, or go to the Blue Cross at www.bluecrossca.com. Or, you can call the Telemedicine Coordinator at Hillman Health Care Center (559-687-6900) for more information.