For some small-town hospitals, access to specialists has become a new standard where the community has realized the value of a telemedicine investment. For Piggott Health System, a 25-bed critical access hospital located in rural northeast Arkansas, telemedicine changes what is possible for hospital operations, patients, and the broader community.
Access TeleCare helped the Piggott team shape how rural access to specialty care heightens trust in the local care team and the hospital’s reputation.
Keeping Patients Closer to Home With Telemedicine
Physicians and nurses no longer have to consider the health risk of transferring patients 100 miles away to Memphis or farther to Little Rock. Instead, Access TeleCare’s seamless integration in multiple specialties keeps patients closer to home where they can rely on excellent local care and recovery.
James Magee
Executive Director
Piggott Health System
“At one time the hospital was viewed as more of a waystation with patients coming to our emergency room just to be transferred to another facility. But now with telemedicine, we’ve improved the care we offer and we’re able to keep more patients here.”
Before Access TeleCare’s program, on-site teams at the hospital were quick to identify patients who needed a transfer to another hospital. They quickly had to assess acuity and risk to make the best judgment for the health of each patient coming through the doors.
“Before telemedicine, if a patient was having difficulty breathing or was septic your mind was almost made up that they would need to be transferred. With telemedicine we have the resources available to care for our patients at the most critical time.”
Brittnay Mossman, APRN
Hospitalist
Piggott Health System
While Access TeleCare’s partnership started with pulmonary and critical care, administrators noted how rapidly transfers decreased and rolled out plans for additional service lines. Soon, the investment and priority in telemedicine cemented its standing as a pillar of strength for the community.
“The hospital is instrumental in the economy of our town and the overall well-being of our community,” said Tonny Dement, APRN, Piggott Health System director of nursing and clinical services. “Keeping more patients is good for their health; they don’t have to travel, and they can see their own doctor and recover close to their family.”
The Difference Telemedicine can Make for Small-Town Communities
Investments in high-quality specialty telemedicine programs represent an investment in not just the hospital, but also the community itself. Cody Knight, a local business leader and president of Piggott State Bank, said the hospital leadership team’s investment and focus on improving outcomes highlights their dedication to going above and beyond for their patients and community.
Cody Knight
President
Piggott State Bank
“You can’t have a community like this that people want to move to without access to great local care. When you give people a small-town lifestyle with access to specialty medical care that’s usually only found in larger cities, it’s going to make a big difference for the community as a whole.”
Investing in improving care and satisfaction is just a small part of what is happening in communities like Piggott across America when they partner with Access TeleCare. See what a telemedicine partnership makes possible for your community, and learn how Access TeleCare helps other hospitals regional care leaders through excellent telemedicine specialty programs.
