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Quick Facts:
Joplin
Recent technological improvements at Mercy Hospital Pittsburg have significantly added to the care options available to patients. Since launching in mid-August, Mercy’s virtual hospitalist, neurology and behavioral health programs have helped keep patients local by providing access to care that isn’t otherwise available.
Mercy Pittsburg caregivers can now reach and collaborate on patient care with specialists in those services 24/7, 365 days a year, all with the push of a few buttons. Even if there isn’t a specialist available on-site, bedside nurses can reach a dedicated provider the moment they need one.
Through cameras in the room, those providers can examine and speak to patients, order medications or tests and do anything a physician on-site could do with the assistance of the care teams that are present.
“The reality is, there’s a nationwide shortage of providers of all kinds, especially specialized services like these,” said Naomi Powers, director of nursing at Mercy Pittsburg. “We know those shortages are even more difficult in rural settings, but we have to figure out how to care for patients. We’ve always provided great care, but virtual care allows patients to see a specialist here in Pittsburg. This is one more important tool that helps us better support our patients and our community.”
Virtual care or telehealth has been especially helpful for rural hospitals’ emergency departments, particularly for stroke victims. Now, when a patient shows signs of having a stroke, they can be immediately assessed by a doctor on-site who can then coordinate with a neurologist virtually. With strokes, every minute counts, and this program connects patients to care as quickly as possible.
“These programs allow for better continuity of care,” said Dr. Kathryn Cornelius, a Mercy ER doctor in Pittsburg. “I had a patient recently who had some complaints that were very obviously neurologic, and I thought, ‘I don't want her to have to wait to follow up. Maybe we can get our virtual stroke team to take a look at her.’ They facilitated the patient’s evaluation and made recommendations. It was phenomenal. The ability to have a neurologist's input immediately makes a huge difference – it saves unnecessary transfers to another facility. If patients are safe enough to go home, they feel even more reassured once the ER doctor says, ‘I think you’re safe,’ and so does the neurologist. It’s fantastic.”
Dr. Ashok Palagiri, vice president of Mercy’s virtual inpatient services, said he’s extremely passionate about improving care in every way possible, including these technological advances. He stressed that the advancements in health care don’t take the place of hands-on, bedside care but compared them to the online tools that have augmented many other everyday services such as banking, ordering in restaurants and more. This is a locally applicable example of Mercy’s commitment to innovation in health care, such as system-wide collaborations with health and technology stalwarts Microsoft and Mayo Clinic.
“Sometimes nurses ask, ‘Are we calling too much?’ The only mistake is calling too little,” Palagiri said. “We’re trying to get rid of that barrier. If you have a question or concern, call your virtual intensivist or hospitalist. For me, the biggest thing is making sure nurses feel supported.”
