"We share in the vision that all Georgians should have access to quality medical care, no matter where they live," said R. Timothy Stack, president and CEO of Piedmont Healthcare.�"The telemedicine program enables Piedmont to offer south Georgia citizens the same first-class health services that we have been providing to the Atlanta community for the past 100 years."

Telemedicine relies on high-tech computer systems to link patients and physicians. For example, patients in south Georgia can log on to a special computer at their local hospital that is connected to a camera. Piedmont specialists log on to a similar computer system in Atlanta. Once connected, patients and specialists can see and interact with each other on the video screen.�Patient medical records and X-rays may also be transmitted to the providing specialist through the teleconferencing system.

Piedmont Hospital's telemedicine program is part of the Georgia Rural Health Care Initiative launched in 2004 by the Georgia Department of Insurance.�The program aims to provide quality medical care to rural Georgia communities where there are only a few practicing healthcare specialists.�In a letter announcing the program Oxendine stated, "When fully realized, this program will ensure that every Georgian is within a 30-minute drive of specialty healthcare."

For more information about Piedmont Hospital, visit www.piedmonthospital.org .

Piedmont Hospital is a subsidiary of Piedmont Healthcare - which includes Piedmont Fayette Hospital, a 100-bed community hospital in Fayetteville, Ga.; Piedmont Mountainside Hospital, a 35-bed community hospital in Jasper, Ga.; Piedmont Clinic, a 460-member physician network; and the Piedmont Physicians Group, a 72-member primary care physician group with 20 offices throughout metro Atlanta. For more information, visit www.piedmonthospital.org

Home | News | Sports | Opinion | Weekend | Churches | Classifieds | Archives Copyright 2004-Fayette Publishing, Inc.