• How to evaluate telemedicine programs
and where to find resources and guidelines
(Elizabeth Krupinski, PhD, ATP Associate
Director for Evaluation and SWTRC
Director)
• Selecting telemedicine technology (Gigi
Sorenson, RN, MSN, Director of Telehealth,
Northern Arizona Healthcare & Janet
Major, ATP Associate Director for Facilities)
• Business aspects of telemedicine
(Donald Graf, Director of Telemedicine,
UnitedHealthCareTM)
• Teleradiology and how to select a
teleradiology vendor (Tim Hunter,
MD, Professor, University of Arizona
Department of Medical Imaging)
• Telecardiology and telediabetes outreach
(Donna Zazworsky, RN, MS, CCM, FAAN,
Vice President of Community Health
and Continuum Care, Carondelet Health
Network)
• Telespychiatry (Sara Gibson, MD, Medical
Director of Telemedicine, Northern Arizona
Regional Behavioral Health Authority)
• Telemedicine best practices and tips
for success panel (Sorenson; Weinstein;
Lopez; Hunter; Krupinski; Sue Sisley, MD,
ATP Associate Director, Interprofessional
Education; Mike Holcomb; ATP Associate
Director, IT; Nancy Rowe, ATP Associate
Director, Outreach)
Attendee Lynn Bedonie, Telemedicine/School
Health Specialist for Tuba City Regional
Health Care Corporation, has been involved
in telemedicine for more than 16 years. “We
were one of the original charter sites for the
Arizona Telemedicine Program,” she said.
“So I’ve been there from the beginning,
from when we used modems to now—and
everything in between.” Bedonie came to
the training to learn more about billing
and teleneurology. “A lot of it was really
informative, even though I’ve been to several
of these,” she said. “The information changes
all the time.”
The conference attracted 84 attendees
from private and governmental healthcare
systems and hospitals; community health
centers and behavioral health clinics; tribal
health departments and medical centers;
and commercial telemedicine medical
services providers. Participants included
CEOs and other senior leadership; doctors,
nurses, and other clinicians; IT directors
and staff; administrators at all levels; and
health educators, with experience ranging
from clinicians just starting to think about
using telemedicine in their private practices
to hospital senior administrators who want
to add sites and services to their already
successful telemedicine programs.
Gigi Sorenson, Northern Arizona Healthcare
Telehealth Director and one of the speakers,
said, “I came hoping to learn more about
other programs across the state and also
to hear the needs of the state.” She heads
“Care Beyond Walls and Wires,” which
has improved patient health and reduced
hospital readmission rates through home
monitoring systems. “I thought it was a very
comprehensive program,” she said, citing
the opportunity for casual conversation and
questions at the end of every presentation
as the most helpful part of the conference.
“I’m very happy that it was held in Flagstaff,
and grateful for the opportunity to showcase
all the work that’s being done in northern
Arizona.”
Northern Arizona Healthcare was one
of the co-sponsors of the conference,
along with North Country HealthCare and
Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health
Authority. All three entities currently operate
successful telehealth programs based in
Flagstaff and, together with the ATP, they
form the Northern Arizona Telemedicine
Alliance, a partnership aimed at encouraging
and enhancing telemedicine services in the
northern part of the state. The SWTRC also
was a sponsor. Director Elizabeth Krupinski,
PhD, said, “The event was a huge success!
Participants were eager to learn and the
number and depth of the questions being
asked was impressive. Telemedicine is clearly
a core part of healthcare in Arizona and will
continue to grow.”
This marks the first time the training
program has been offered onsite in northern
Arizona, but not the last. “We will be
offering this program in Flagstaff at least
annually from now on,” said ATP Director
Ronald S. Weinstein, MD. “The response
was overwhelming; people were waitlisted. We want to ensure that all those who
are interested get a chance to attend this
training.” Sorenson agreed: “You could see
by the participation in the auditorium that
repeating this at least on an annual basis is
well worth the time and effort.”
39