Lost Rivers Medical Center in Arco, Idaho, was saved from bankruptcy when it added telemedicine, according to an article on the Fierce Healthcare website.
The hospital passed a $5.5 million bond and used the money to streamline the hospital’s workforce by investing in telehealth services.
Lost Rivers now has a telepharmacy staffed by students at Idaho State University where patients consult with a pharmacist 80 miles away.
Although rural health experts note that infrastructure challenges and the costs associated with establishing telehealth programs are often prohibitive for rural facilities, other medical centers have seen similar success by leaning on telemedicine, the article said.
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