Is it possible for us to have telemedicine in Milam County?
This would certainly be a big step forward as we need an urgent care/emergency room in the county. However, both are cost prohibitive at the present.
Telemedicine allows one to contact a doctor with a mobile device and speak to and receive a diagnosis and treatment plan without leaving home.
If medicine is prescribed the person would go to a centrally located kiosk machine and use a credit card to buy the prescribed drugs.
It looks like this just might happen soon.
When the hospital in Rockdale closed, the Rockdale Hospital District contacted Texas A&M to see if there was any interest in using the vacant facility for teaching purposes. A&M didn’t need the building, but this led to discussions about telemedicine in Rockdale.
About two weeks ago I was contacted by Texas A&M about the possibility of having telemedicine in Milam County.
My answer was of course we want telemedicine in the county.
We may have the new app and kiosk machines in place by April 2020.
We plan to roll out the plans to elected and civic leaders throughout the county on Nov. 22.
Representatives from A&M will be on hand to explain how the program will work.
However, as it stands today, anyone will be able to download the telemedicine app on their mobile device.
On-call doctors will be available 24/7 via the app and there will be a fee to visit with the doctor.
The doctor can diagnose and prescribe a regime of treatment.
Kiosk machines will be available in Rockdale and Cameron and can be accessed with a credit card.
While this will be new to most of us in the County, telemedicine is being used more and more.
Telemedicine provides two-way real time interactive communication between the patient and the physician or practitioner.
Thanks to rapid advances in technology, a telemedicine doctor can now diagnose, monitor and consult with patients from a distance through advanced videoconferencing, remote monitoring and other methods.
Remember we also have four clinics in the County now as well.
Dr. House is at Country Meadows Clinic in Thorndale; Healthpoint/St. Joseph and Rockdale Medical (old hospital building) are in Rockdale; and Scott & White in Cameron.
Potentially a person could be treated by telemedicine and then referred to one of these fine clinics for follow-up care.
We will certainly keep you posted as to the development of this exciting new advancement of medical treatment in our county.
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