via TheUnion.com
By Kyle Magin
f North San Juan residents can't make it
to Davis for medical care, technology can bring Davis to them.
The Sierra Family Medical Clinic is partnering with the University of
California, Davis, to bring advanced care to its 120-plus diabetes
patients through its telemedicine program.
“For some of our patients, it's hard to pay for enough gas in their car
just to get here. Davis is a two-hour drive,” said Wendy Barnhart, the
director of operations for the clinic. “Anything we can do to alleviate
that is a big help to them.”
Starting later this month, Davis specialists will offer classes for
diabetes patients through live videoconferencing at the clinic in North
San Juan. Classes will focus on caring for diabetes patients, who often
have highly specialized dietary and medical needs, Barnhart said.
Davis officials selected the clinic for the trial program, which they
plan to expand to 18 other rural medical centers.
The program is a continuation of the clinic's telemedicine program,
which has advanced over the past eight years, said clinic spokeswoman
Krishna Dewey.
“It started when (executive director) Peter Van Houten realized this is
the best way to assure patients can receive high-quality medical
services from referrals right here on site,” Dewey said.
Primarily, the clinic uses telemedicine — videoconferencing for local
patients and far-away doctors — for its behavioral health and
psychiatric services, Dewey said. Patients are referred by their primary
care doctor at the clinic to psychiatrists elsewhere and can meet with
them by video in North San Juan.
“The psychiatrists actually prefer the visits because they can observe
the innuendo from the patient's face more carefully,” Dewey said.
The primary care physician in North San Juan then can follow up
immediately with the psychiatrist to receive any recommendations on
treatments, such as prescription medication.
“Our doctors can follow up on the visit right away,” Dewey said.
To contact Staff Writer Kyle Main, e-mail kmagin@theunion.com or call
(530) 477-4239.