Akron Children's Hospital launches telehealth program

According to a press release, Akron Children's Hospital has received a $750,000 federal grant to create a telehealth program, which will use communications technologies to delivery health information and services in rural Ohio. Under this grant, the program will focus on two schools for children with special needs (Ida Sue School in Wooster and Dale Roy School in Ashland). School children who develop health issues will be "examined by a school nurse using special electronic medical equipment. The information gathered--for example, a photo of the child's ear drum or a record of heart and lung sounds--is then stored and sent electronically to the child's physician at a remote location. After reviewing the digital photos and sounds, the physician conducts a video conference with the child and the nurse to make a diagnosis and determine treatment. Finally, the physician composes a letter or video that is transmitted to the school for the parents to review." This telehealth program should be fully functional by the start of the next school year.