Telecommuting to Virtually Manage a Telemedicine Program using Advanced Communications

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Telecommuting to Virtually Manage a Telemedicine
Program using Advanced Communications
Lori Balch, Kevin Hopkins, MD, FACS
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Our Roots
Clara Driscoll (1881-1945)

• Pioneering Spirit
• Historic Preservationist
• Democratic National Committeewoman 16 yrs.
• Bank president
• Author
• Savior of the Alamo

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Driscoll Heritage (continued)

• Brazen, Renegade, Controversial
• Single Again
• Returned to Corpus Christi
• Built Robert Driscoll Hotel
• Brazen, Renegade, Controversial

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Driscoll Childrens Hospital Corpus
Community hospital for children in the local
area Tertiary hospital for children with
complex, chronic, or congenital
conditions Safety net hospital for uninsured or
under insured children
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Regional Referral Center

• 33 County South Texas Area
• Del Rio - Laredo - Victoria - Harlingen
• 31,000 Square Miles of DCH South Texas Coverage -
  equal to the size of the State of South Carolina

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Program Overview

• International Telemedicine Services
• Clinical
• Admin
• Education
• Robust Telemedicine network in place
• Broad regional coverage

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Driscoll International Telemedicine Services

• Educational programs
• Nursing
• Physician
• Patient
• Administrative activities
• Clinical services
• Endocrinology
• Cranio-facial
• Clinical support

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1600 Mile Telecommute
Greenville, NC
Corpus Christi, TX
Four plane hops or one IP video call
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How it Happened

• Creative Thinking
• Infrastructure in place
• Vacant TM position
• Visionary hospital leadership
• Budget constraints
• Shared common goals (institution and personal)

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Virtual Workspace (how it works)

• I Provide
• Consumer Service Cable Modem
• Home VTC (Tandberg 1000)
• Fax Machine
• Web conferencing tools
• Printer and Office supplies
• Space and Overhead Costs
• Employer Provides
• Laptop with remote access software and VPN
• Cell Phone
• AMD General Exam Camera

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Challenges

• Public Internet Traffic
• Missed Interpersonal Interaction
• Ongoing institution leadership changes
• My social isolation
• My self-discipline
• Transitioning between work and personal
  life (all in one space)

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Win-Win Proposition

• I dont work at home I work in cyberspace
• More family time
• Fewer work interruptions
• More focused time
• Institution saves space
• No office overhead
• Institution save Travel

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In Closing

• Find the right fit (organization need)
• Find your niche
• Telecommuting is the future (think out of the
  box)

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Thank you.

• Lori Balch, Associate Director of Telemedicine
• Driscoll Childrens Hospital
• Lori.maiolo_at_dchstx.org
• 361.658.4551 cell