The new Penn Medicine https://www.pennmedicine.org “Center for Connected Care” provides a central point for Penn Health System’s telemedicine activities. The new Center was established to provide care for the critically ill and provide a tele-homecare service for the chronically ill.
The Center’s home telehealth program provides post hospitalization remote monitoring for more than 160 patients each month in their homes. This program employs a concept known as automated hovering which combines new technologies such as wireless devices that can track patients’ vital signs and other indicators.
The Center for Connected Care is the largest telehealth center in the region and one of the largest telehealth hubs in the country. The center has 50 full time employees supporting patients 24/7 as well as other Penn Medicine staff working in a variety of settings across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.
Penn provides additional telemedicine services in the use of Penn’s “E-lert eICU” service. This service provides 24/7 coverage for patients by using two-way video and audio technology to monitor patients who are at risk for falling or developing sepsis. The Penn “E-lert eICU” is one of the largest intensive care telemedicine programs in the nation.
Telemedical specialty services are also provided for transplant advice services, dermatology, ophthalmology, radiology, adolescent and young adult medicine, and complex neurological conditions to patients at regional, national, and international locations.
Other telemedical specialty services offered includes post-operative surgical visits as well as consultations on hematology, oncology, and provides veteran’s mental health services. Other services include using telemedicine to link obstetricians to trauma surgeons when needed to care for critically injured pregnant women.
Another new program called the telegenetics program is available through Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center. This service provides genetic counseling for patients living with or at-risk of inherited conditions via remote video conferencing.
Penn Medicine is also actively providing telemedicine to help cancer patients prepare for bone marrow transplants. This is accomplished when the cancer patient meets with their local physician at one of Penn Medicine’s regional entities. The patient is able to video conference with the remotely located transplant physician who will oversee the patient’s care at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Go to www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/find-a-program-or-service/penn-connected/care for more information on the Penn Medicine Center for Connected Care.