Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Becomes Newest Link in Western University's TeleHealth Network
A $75,000 grant from Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Charitable Trust
has enabled the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP)
at Western University of Health Sciences to establish a state-of-the-art
video-conferencing network that provides electronic connection to a
number of interstate hospitals.
The TeleHealth network, as it is called, gives each hospital access to
continuing education and specialist consultations from COMP and allows
real-time sharing of information among all linked parties. A separate
equipment grant from the regional Osteopathic Postgraduate Training
Institute (OPTI-West) has provided Pacific Hospital of Long Beach access
to the network as well.
Member institutions now linked to the OPTI-West Telehealth Network (OTN)
include Pacific Hospital of Long Beach, Colorado Springs Osteopathic
Foundation and Medical Center, and Western University. Additional sites
in California, New Mexico and Oregon will soon be fully integrated. Of
26 residents at Pacific Hospital of Long Beach each year, over 70%
are graduates of Western University. Pacific’s accredited Osteopathic
Medicine Program includes Internal Medicine, which earned a number-one
ranking in the nationally recognized In-Service Training Exam for 2003;
Family Practice; and Transitional Internship programs.
“”This is a prime example where the integration of technology greatly
enhances the health care process,”” said Philip Pumerantz, president of
Western University. “”If a patient’s case is complex, the doctor can use
the network to consult a specialist from COMP or a member hospital and
share x-rays, CAT scans and heart sounds in real time. Doctors can also
take continuing education courses through the network, updating their
knowledge and skills at home rather than having to travel to other
cities.””