Recent and Current HealthWays/MTS Telemedicine Initiatives

Maine Telehealth Network:

MTS played a critical role in the development of this open, interoperable statewide network, one of largest in the nation (see publication and recent presentation reviewing this history). Over 300 facilities among 150 organizations are on the network, including hospitals, health centers, mental health and social service agencies, nursing homes, community action programs, child care centers, government, and other agencies. RMCL’s Technical Services Department also manages a video bridge for linking multiple users.

Northeast Telehealth Resource Center:

Under this new grant project from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, MTS/RMCL partners with the University of Vermont School of Medicine and the Center for Connected Health in Boston to develop a resource center with the goal to facilitate growth of telehealth programs and services in the 6 northeastern states. Please visit the project Website for details and links to extensive online resources.

Mental Health:

Mental health and psychiatry is the most active clinical service on the network, with Acadia Hospital alone delivering about 2,000 consults a year. Working with Maine Department of Behavioral and Developmental Services in Region II, MTS is helping to develop telemedicine services for mental health agency sites in central Maine. In 2003, MTS helped Sweetser pilot the Maine Telepsychiatry Initiative with funding from the Maine Health Access Foundation.

Corrections:

MTS contracts with the Maine Department of Corrections to support the development of telemedicine services for nine state correctional facility sites and for youth community correctional services. Several RMCL grant projects, including a current Rural Utilities Service grant, have helped fund equipment for prisons and numerous administrative and community corrections sites. The most active uses are for tele-mental health services for two prison sites and for case management, teamwork among probation officers, and collaboration to assure effective community reintegration of juvenile offenders (see 2008 Map of sites and Annual Report 2006 for details and evaluation results).

Judicial Videoconferencing:

In 2004, MTS helped the Maine Judicial Branch plan for the use of videoconferencing to enhance the efficiency of and access to judicial proceedings. Under a subsequent contract, MTS helped them develop a network among courts in the 16 counties and is facilitating implementation of such uses as video arraignment of jail detainees, mental health hearings, testimony of witnesses or victims from a distance, and distance education programs. For more information, see Planning background, Map, and Evaluation summary.

Telepharmacy:

Based on a pilot program at the HealthWays clinic in Lubec, a new grant from the Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Services is funding the expansion of telepharmacy systems to three other community health centers sites in northern and eastern Maine where access to a local pharmacy is a barrier to timely health care. For details, see Project Summary.

Home Telehealth Care:

Sunrise County HomeCare Services and the VNA of Aroostook led the first demonstration in Maine of home care telemedicine and have provided over 4,000 telehealth visits. Another project demonstrated the effectiveness of home mental health care services for elders with depression and anxiety. Sunrise HomeCare also consults on home telehealth development and led a statewide group of home health agencies in the development of planning and policy initiatives. For findings, download Powerpoint presentation.

Island Health Care:

MTS helped the Maine Seacoast Mission develop primary and specialty care telemedicine services for several mid-coast Maine islands using their 72-foot vessel Sunbeam. A Mission nurse facilitates use of equipment about the boat that allows island residents to virtually visit with their physicians at clinics on Vinalhaven, North Haven, and Southwest Harbor. For details see Powerpoint presentation.

Video Relay Interpreting Services:

Through collaboration between Pine Tree Society, the Maine Hospital Association Telehealth Committee, and MTS, American Sign Language interpretive services via telemedicine is now available at 11 hospitals and can be provided for others desiring this service. For evaluation findings, download Powerpoint file.

Health Care Education:

MTS contracts with the Central Maine Medical Center School of Nursing to support their network for delivery of nursing educational programs through videoconferencing. MTS disseminates information in its newsletter on the regular Grand Rounds CME offerings of Eastern Maine Healthcare, Maine Medical Center, and Penobscot Bay Medical Center.

State Infrastructure Development:

Working collaboratively, MTS, state government and other health care leaders are building an environment in Maine conducive to telemedicine, including favorable reimbursement and regulations. Telemedicine is well recognized in the current Maine State Health Plan (see extracted section on telemedicine), and MTS continues to participate in the Telehealth Workgroup convened by the Governor’s Office and the Maine Health Access Foundation.

Statewide Telehealth Business Planning for Other States:

In 2005, MTS helped a consortium in Wisconsin prepare a strategic plan for statewide programs. In 2004, MTS participated in a conference and planning sessions run by the New Hampshire Telehealth Program and Dartmouth Medical School and under a contract in 2007-08 helped facilitate the completion of a strategic business plan among a large stakeholder group for a statewide network.

For information please call: (207) 287-4060