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Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Becomes Newest Link in Western University's TeleHealth Network

by Rodney Tanaka

January 12, 2004

Read 1 mins

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.””

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