by George Humphrey
AHSC Public Affairs
The Arizona Telemedicine Program (ATP) at the University of Arizona College of Medicine once again has received recognition as one of the top programs of its kind in the nation.
The December issue of Telehealth Magazine honors the top 10 telemedicine programs in the United States. The Arizona Telemedicine Program was selected to that prestigious list because of "unwavering commitment to research, evaluation, documentation and clinical care, highly innovative
approach to implementing telehealth technologies and services," the magazine states.
(The Northern Arizona Regional Health Authority, a secondary hub of the Arizona Telemedicine Program, also was ranked among the nation's top 10 telemedicine programs. Last year, the Arizona Telemedicine Program received three prestigious national awards, including one honoring ATP as one of two of our nation's most outstanding telemedicine programs.) Based at the UA College of Medicine, the Arizona Telemedicine Program "is bringing a broad range of UA medical subspecialty expertise to many rural communities previously served almost exclusively by primary care physicians," says Dr. Ronald S. Weinstein, director of the program and a pioneer in the development of telemedicine technology.
ATP now has 14 sites throughout the state and will expand to more than 20 sites when additional state prisons are added to the network. In 1996, the Arizona Legislature appropriated $1.2 million to fund an eight-community rural telemedicine network. The UA College of Medicine responded to the state's initiative by creating the Arizona Rural Telemedicine Network, which integrates service, training and technology assessment activities. A training center provides instruction in telemedicine technologies for physicians and other health care professionals.
Telemedicine makes it possible to deliver specialized medical services to distant sites using modern telecommunications technology, including interactive high-resolution video imaging, digital photography, computer workstations and other technology. Telemedicine allows physicians at
distant locations to make diagnoses, conduct consultations and recommend treatment plans. The technology also allows for the transfer of medical information between locations. Telemedicine services have been provided to more than 3,500 ATP patients.
Other programs Telehealth Magazine ranked among the nation's top 10 were: Appal-Link Network; East Carolina University; Eastern Montana Telemedicine Network; Kansas University; Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority; Partners Health System; University of California, Davis; University of Colorado; University of Tennessee.