The Harrisonburg Community Health Center (HCHC) received a $12,500 check from Emmett Toms, Manager, Dominion Resources, to support its Telemedicine Program for high-risk pregnant women. These women must look to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville for specialty care, where weather, road conditions and parking are often barriers.
Telemedicine allows the patient to come to the HCHC office, off of Port Republic Road and connect with their specialist at UVA through Broadband Services. The HCHC provides a medical practitioner to conduct examinations and other patient support while connected to the specialist at UVA by a large two way monitor. Telemedicine is a technology that provides continuity of care for patients who, for a variety of health reasons, have difficulty accessing needed health care.
As the patient origination site or “spoke”, the Harrisonburg Community Health Center does not receive any insurance reimbursement to operate its telemedicine program. The staff and patients greatly appreciate the help provided by Dominion Resources to support telemedicine.