RIVER FALLS, Wis. 1/4/2018 — River Falls Area Hospital, part of Allina Health, has launched a new telemedicine program as an addition to its robust hospitalist services. The partnership with Eagle telemedicine, based out of Atlanta, Georgia, includes board-certified internal medicine physicians licensed in Wisconsin and fully credentialed as part of the hospital medical staff.
The telehospitalist program allows patients to see and talk with a remote hospitalist, a doctor who specializes in seeing patients in the hospital, through a real-time audio and video connection. This service gives immediate access to a specially trained hospitalist during overnight hours of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The service is very much like a regular physician visit, only the physician is “beamed in” via a rolling stand that is equipped with a digital stethoscope and other diagnostic equipment, as well as a videoconferencing monitor and camera, enabling physicians from remote locations to communicate directly, face-to-face, with patients and staff.
"This advanced technology offers wide-ranging benefits for our patients and our clinical teams," said Jen Loesch, Director of Patient Care, River Falls Area Hospital. "The service increases access to physicians during overnight hours in an effort to provide staff and patients the best and most timely support and care. In addition, this best practice model is fully integrated into the patient’s hospital medical record, and brings seamless care by collaborating with our own local doctors in addition to working with multiple specialists throughout Allina Health."
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 10 hospitals / 13 campuses, 15 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services.