Telehealth Services model
SIU Telehealth Services extends provider services to outlying communities in central and southern Illinois. Two forms of telehealth are utilized to connect patients and providers. Traditional telehealth or site-based telehealth allows a provider from SIU Medicine to see a patient at the telehealth-enabled partner health care site. Telehealth to the home, the most common type of telehealth, enables providers to see the patient from the comfort of their home environment, supporting a direct-to-patient virtual care experience.
Who do we serve?
Since March 2020, SIU Medicine has been fortunate enough to serve patients via telehealth with a home address in 98 of the 102 counties in Illinois. Meeting the health needs of not only local counties, but the whole state is a service we are proud of. We have reached and continue to reach medically underserved populations in small urban and rural areas in need of better health outcomes. Through telehealth, we are able to close some of those gaps in care and provide many benefits of a virtual care experience.
The Office of Telehealth serves strives to support all providers, clinical staff, and patients who choose to utilize this care model. From providing education and training to technical support and assistance, the Office of Telehealth Services strives to better telehealth opportunities for all interested.
If you are interested in learning more about our telehealth model, please email us at telehealthservices@siumed.edu.
Telehealth offers four fundamental benefits:
Improved Access
For over 40 years, Telehealth has been used to bring healthcare services to patients at distant sites. Not only does Telehealth improve access to patients but it also allows providers and health facilities to expand their reach, beyond their own offices. Given the provider shortages throughout the world--in both rural and urban areas--Telehealth has a unique capacity to increase service to millions of new patients.
Cost Efficiencies
Reducing or containing the cost of healthcare is one of the most important reasons for funding and adopting telehealth technologies. Telehealth can reduce the cost of healthcare and increase efficiency through better management of chronic diseases, shared health professional staffing, reduced travel times, and fewer or shorter hospital stays.
Improved Quality
Some studies have shown that the quality of healthcare services delivered via Telehealth is as good as those given in traditional in-person consultations. In some specialties, particularly in mental health and ICU care, Telehealth offers great patient satisfaction and experience, providing patients with the care they need when they need it.
Patient Demand
Consumers want Telehealth. The greatest impact of Telehealth is on the patient, their family, and their community. Using Telehealth technologies reduces travel time and related stresses for the patient. Virtual care services offer patients access to providers that might not be available otherwise due to a number of factors such as traveling, taking off work, or finding childcare. At SIU Medicine, we want to provide care to patients in the most convenient way possible, which can be through telehealth.