St. Dominic Hospital Adds Pulmonology Services to its Telemedicine Program with REACH Health

ATLANTA, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Patients at several hospitals throughout the state of Mississippi will now benefit from remote consultations with pulmonary physicians at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, MS. St. Dominic's expanded partnership with REACH Health, Inc. connects lung specialists with acute care pulmonary patients – such as those suffering from collapsed lungs, severe asthma attacks, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or pulmonary embolisms.

"Our multiservice telemedicine platform will give our rural hospital partners direct access to a pulmonary specialist," said Cris Bourn, PT, DPT, MHS, Neuroscience/Orthopedic Service Line Administrator. "This means that pulmonary patients will be able to receive excellent specialty care at their local community hospital, near their families and loved ones."

Intubation and mechanical ventilation are commonplace in hospital intensive care units (ICUs). Because ventilators carry the risk of serious lung damage and delayed negative effects, consultation with a pulmonologist can be valuable. Of particular relevance for pulmonary patients is ventilator management – determining the proper airflow, pressure and volume for each patient to ensure the optimal respiratory rate.

The REACH Access Platform allows emergency department clinicians and consulting physicians to conduct joint examinations and share critical medical data and images. REACH Health was a pioneer in telestroke and now provides one enterprise telemedicine solution for multiple specialties, with pulmonary, psychiatry, cardiology, neurology and ICU services.

"Forward-looking partners like St. Dominic can use REACH Access to provide the best possible care and make critical time-sensitive decisions for emergency department and ICU patients," said Steve McGraw, President and CEO of REACH Health. "But there are also significant logistical benefits for administrative aspects such as allocating bed space and managing emergency department capacity and workflow."

St. Dominic, a 535-bed hospital, launched its telemedicine program last year with REACH Health, a leading supplier of enterprise telemedicine software. Initially, the program focused on treating stroke patients in three affiliated hospitals. These affiliated hospitals were able to directly consult with neurologists to help make critical determinations such as the type and severity of the stroke, available treatment options, and whether to transport the patient.

About St. Dominic's
St. Dominic's is more than just a hospital. It is a family of services focused on fulfilling a mission of Christian healing to those in need. St. Dominic Health Services, Inc. is the parent company for a large group of subsidiary organizations and programs dedicated to the same mission. These include St. Dominic Hospital, the Community Health Services Clinic, St. Dominic Medical Associates (physician network), New Directions for Over 55, MEA Clinics, The Club at St. Dominic's, the School Nurse Program, St. Dominic's Foundation, St. Catherine's Village and Care-A-Van. 



St. Dominic Hospital is a 535-bed tertiary care hospital located in Jackson, MS serving all of central Mississippi and employs approximately 3,000 nurses, physicians, and skilled caregivers. The medical staff, of nearly 500 leading physicians and specialists, makes St. Dominic's one of the most comprehensive hospitals in Mississippi. Through nearly seven decades, St. Dominic's has remained true to its vision. We are St. Dominic's – a Christian healing community called to provide quality, compassionate care and an Exceptional Encounter Everytime.

About REACH Health
REACH Health technology powers many of the nation's most successful telemedicine networks, helping health systems achieve measurable improvements in their clinical, operational and financial performance. REACH Health's enterprise telemedicine software combines real-time audio/video technology with vital patient data, clinical workflow and documentation to overcome the traditional obstacles of time and distance. By securely connecting physicians anytime, anywhere, REACH Health technology enables remote consultations, connects patients with specialists, and supports collaboration by clinical care teams. Physicians and clinicians embrace the ease of use of a single, intuitive platform tailored to multiple specialties. REACH Health pioneered one of the nation's first telestroke programs and remains the innovation leader, providing the most advanced clinical solutions to improve patient access and care. For more information, visit www.reachhealth.com.

SOURCE REACH Health