OSU Medicine expands virtual care services in Oklahoma
OKLAHOMA, UNITED STATES — Healthcare system OSU Medicine is significantly expanding its virtual care programs to enhance healthcare access across the state of Oklahoma.
The initiative includes providing virtual behavioral health emergency room consults to McCurtain Memorial Hospital in Idabel and Cleveland Area Hospital, as well as planning to extend virtual hospitalist services to Northeastern Health System Sequoyah in Sallisaw.
Leveraging telehealth to reach rural Oklahoma
OSU Medicine’s efforts aim to address the healthcare access gap in rural Oklahoma by leveraging advanced telehealth technologies. The expansion includes tele-stroke services in Anadarko, Fairfax, and Stroud, and ongoing virtual cardiology services with Choctaw Nation in Poteau.
Dr. Johnny Stephens, President of OSU Center for Health Sciences, emphasized, “OSU continues to innovate as the leader in telehealth and virtual care, as technology continues to broaden the possibilities of reaching across the state to provide specialty care.”
Enhancing emergency and specialty care access
In addition to virtual care, OSU Medicine is staffing and managing ER services at Cleveland Area Hospital and McAlester Regional Medical Center with board-certified emergency medicine physicians.
Edred Benton, CEO of Cleveland Area Hospital, noted, “The partnership with OSU, including having an emergency medicine physician onsite 24/7, has enhanced our clinical skill, professionalism, and stability.”
Prioritizing mental health support
The virtual care initiative has already shown a significant impact. During the first month at McCurtain Memorial Hospital, OSU Medicine provided 21 emergency behavioral health appointments, half of which were addiction-related.
Dr. David Bishop, ER physician at McCurtain Memorial Hospital, highlighted the importance of this service, stating, “Through this partnership, patients can see a psychiatrist and potentially begin treatment immediately.”
Collaborative approach for comprehensive care
OSU Medicine is also launching a pilot project with 20 rural schools to provide urgent and behavioral care services via telehealth carts equipped with diagnostic tools.
Additionally, two mobile care units will soon provide primary and cardiology care in rural areas. Free virtual primary care clinics will open in partnership with OSU Extension offices in select rural counties.
OSU Center for Health Sciences continues to support rural providers through Project ECHO, offering virtual sessions on various health topics. The Oklahoma Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Access Program (OKCAPMAP) also provides mental health support to pediatric primary care and emergency department providers.
By expanding virtual care services and forming strategic partnerships, OSU Medicine is making significant strides in improving healthcare access and quality for rural Oklahomans.
