Benefits

1. The network is used to provide patient care to rural areas where specialized treatment can be harder to access. Patients save travel time and expense and have improved access to specialty care.
2. Business and administrative meetings held via videoconference saves time and money on travel expenses.
3. Through the use of a piece of hardware at the hub called a bridge, several sites can be connected together for a conference.
4. Decreased travel time and lower job absenteeism for patients who reside in rural communities far from tertiary care centers.
5. Earlier disease intervention and fewer unncessary interventional procedures through increased access to specialists.
6. Decreased average length of stay due to availability of a specialist for follow up care.
7. Decreased outmigration of primary care services by expanding availability of services locally, enhancing the status of local hospitals and primary care practitioners.
8. Enhanced clinical support and improved confidence in clinical judgement for local practitioners.
9. Increased referral opportunities for specialists.
10. Opportunities to enhance and supplement the services provided at existing outreach specialty clinics.
11. Increased opportunities to attract the most medically challenging cases.
12. Screening opportunities for preventive care.
13. Easy and routine access to continuing education programs from across the state.
14. The opportunity to consult with other professionals internationally.

Uses

1. Patient consultations, patient exams and follow-up exams. All patient exams are confidential and are done over a secure network.
2. Emergent consultations for trauma and mental health patients.
3. Education for healthcare professionals and patients.
4. Support groups.
5. Administrative meetings.