The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center of Atlanta has teamed up with GPT (Georgia Partnership of Telehealth) to set up the first dedicated telehealth center for MS in Valdosta, Georgia.
A significant number of patients in Georgia lack access to physicians knowledgeable about their disease or illness. This is true not only in rural areas, but also in many urban areas for certain specialties. Patients pay a significant price, travel great distances, to see their physician. Many with disabling diseases have no means of transportation. MS is a prime example where the majority of specialists are in the metro Atlanta area.
Now, patients will be able to see their MS specialist immediately from a primary care facility without traveling 4.5 hours (each way). The Center is to have sites across Georgia and hope the future will allow such care directly from every primary care physician's office.
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Rajiv Leventhal
Managing Editor
Rajiv Leventhal is Managing Editor of Healthcare Innovation, covering healthcare IT leadership and strategy. Since 2012, he has been covering health IT developments for the publication's CIO and CMIO-based audience, and has taken keen interest in areas such as policy and payment, patient engagement, health information exchange, mobile health, healthcare data security, and telemedicine.
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