Bringing Your Doctor to You: Telemedicine at Sharp Rees-Stealy

Brent Steineckert, Director, EMR, Access and Health Information Management, Sharp Rees-Stealy, and Marcy Mishiwiec, Director, IT Ancillary Services, Sharp HealthCare. For more than two years, Sharp Rees-Stealy (SRS) medical centers have been connecting patients with their primary care physician or specialist through the use of telemedicine.  Patients have the option to receive care for certain conditions through a telephonic or video visit.  Using their own device (smartphone, tablet, computer), patients can access care while at home or at work, and can avoid the hassle of traffic, parking, and wait times.  Unlike most telemedicine programs, patients conduct video or phone visits with their established primary care physician or specialist physician.  This means the physician treating the patient knows their medical history, their family history, and their chronic conditions without the need for lengthy questionnaires or intake processes.  Furthermore, since it’s the patient’s own doctor, medications can be refilled, labs/imaging can be ordered, and patients can complete their testing on a walk-in basis at one of the many Sharp locations throughout San Diego.  Patients love the convenience and physicians enjoy the focused nature of the telemedicine visit. Brent and Marcy also discuss the challenges faced and benefits this program offers.