Featured Blog Post

As a rural hospital, we excel in adapting to various situations. In remote areas far from big cities, we have learned to work with the available resources. Medical professionals in rural hospitals often take on multiple roles, and attracting healthcare providers to these areas can be quite challenging. Highlands Medical Center has encountered a number of these challenges in the past, but we are currently undergoing significant changes.

Highlands Health and Rehab has recently acquired a Telemedicine Robot. The presence of robots in a small town may be unsettling to some, but this is the reality. Telemedicine not only holds the promise of substituting in-person care, but also provides increased access to specialists and convenient routine examinations, thereby extending healthcare services to remote areas. This represents a significant advancement in the level of care available to patients in our community. Telehealth enables Highlands Health and Rehab to facilitate patient consultations with a physician within a four-hour window. Patients and staff engage in discussions such as medication management, symptoms, and health habits. This approach ensures that Highlands Health and Rehab can offer residents access to a physician 24/7 without requiring them to leave their rooms.

Below are further benefits that telehealth brings to our rural communities:

1. Enhances Healthcare Accessibility. Telehealth enables rural residents to connect with specialists and healthcare professionals who may not be accessible in our community. This is particularly crucial for the management of chronic illnesses and the utilization of mental health resources.
2. Minimizes Travel Time and Expenses. Patients residing in rural regions frequently need to cover significant distances to access healthcare services. Telehealth helps cut down on travel requirements, resulting in savings in both time and money.
3. Enhances Health Results. Telehealth can improve health outcomes by increasing accessibility to healthcare services. When patients can easily seek care, they are more inclined to address minor health concerns before they escalate into more serious issues.
4. Support for Healthcare Providers. Telehealth can help lighten the workload for rural healthcare providers and offer opportunities for increased revenue in medical facilities.

Highlands Medical Center is thrilled to share that Highlands Health and Rehab is leading the way as the first care center to implement a telehealth robot. Highlands Health and Rehab is looking forward to the new possibilities this advancement offers and continue delivering top-quality care to our community.