Cardiovascular Institute 2022 Report | Page 27

OUTREACH
TELEHEALTH

OUTREACH

The UAB Cardiovascular Institute has expanded its reach across the state of Alabama through outreach efforts to provide access to needed cardiovascular services in local communities . Currently , our faculty provide general and interventional cardiology , cardiothoracic surgery , and vascular surgery services in Alexander City , Bessemer , Cullman , Huntsville , Florence , Mobile , and Montgomery .
LOCATIONS

TELEHEALTH

Using state-of-the-art telehealth technology , UAB eMedicine interacts directly with patients and works with county health departments , hospitals , and medical centers throughout Alabama to provide health care services that might otherwise be unavailable locally .
UAB eMedicine outpatient clinics allow patients to receive care close to home from UAB Medicine ’ s nationally ranked specialists . Using telehealth technology , including secure videoconferencing and Bluetooth-enabled stethoscopes , UAB Medicine providers can perform full physical exams and manage complex medical conditions from a distance .
As a part of UAB Medicine ’ s expansion of telehealth services , UAB general cardiologists Gilbert Perry , MD , and Greg Chapman , MD , will begin seeing patients remotely through a grant from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama . The grant provides funding for a telehealth-equipped room at four health care facilities in rural counties in the state .
UAB has also initiated a remote patient monitoring program for patients with congestive heart failure , with the goal of improving patient care and proactively reducing readmissions . In this program , identified patients are sent home with a blood pressure cuff and weight scale that transmits real-time data to a nurse practitioner . If concerning values are transmitted , the patient is called , and care is coordinated by the patient ’ s provider .
Other cardiovascular initiatives ongoing or planned include the use of telehealth for cardio-oncology patients , advanced heart failure services , and pre- and post-operative assessments for cardiovascular surgery patients .