From the Administrator’s Desk...Tele-dermatology

CEO James J Dickson

Copper Queen Community Hospital continues to strive to provide access to health care which is its mission. About six months ago one of our physicians wanted to get a dermatology consult for a patient who had a suspicious lesion. The patient was insured by AHCCCS through one of its HMOs. The patient, who had no means of transportation, was told that he would have to take a bus to Phoenix to receive care and that the HMO would pay for the transportation.

This situation has somewhat improved and the patient who has AHCCCS/Medicaid must now go to Tucson. In Arizona, with its high rate of skin cancer, not having access to a dermatologist for care is unacceptable.

We began to explore solutions to this problem by talking to the major healthcare centers in Tucson. Eventually we were able to collaborate with Carondelet Health Network. Through their medical group we secured the services of a dermatologist, Dr. Bangert, who has extensive experience in tele-dermatology. Carondelet Health System and Copper Queen Community Hospital are both members of the Arizona Telemedicine Program sponsored by the University of Arizona. We will use their broadband connectivity to pass clinical data for a dermatological consult.

Effective October 2007, Copper Queen Community Hospital will offer dermatology consults through its three clinics in Douglas, Bisbee and, eventually, Palominas. Utilizing a camera and special software the consult will be performed in the clinic. The information will be stored and forwarded to the dermatologist. This is not unlike what a pathologist does when reading a tissue sample. If the dermatologist recommends a biopsy this can easily be performed in the physician’s office in town. We have arranged with local pathologists to read the specimens. The dermatologist can also treat a wide variety of skin disorders and other dermatological conditions.

It is rewarding to be able to solve healthcare problems and do it in an efficient and effective manner. We continue to recruit more physicians. In the past year we have recruited three internal medicine physicians, a pediatrician and a pediatric nurse practitioner.

This will go a long way in providing access to health care in our service area.