Telemedicine

Sequoyah Memorial will be obtaining telemedicine equipment that will allow a live connection to specialists who are not on site but may be in major medical centers in other cities. Debbie Knoke, SMH Administrator, said that “many times the specialty services are needed for consultation in the treatment of patients at SMH.”

The first project for telemedicine utilization is the stroke treatment program in conjunction with Margaret Tremwel, MD, PhD, a neurologist affiliated with Sparks, and one of the state’s leading vascular neurological physicians. Dr. Tremwel has conducted training with SMH staff. According to Knoke, at present, all nursing staff are certified in American Heart NIH Stroke Certification. A stroke team has been identified and is made up of physicians, nurses, and radiology technologists. The SMH staff will continue to work with Dr. Tremwel toward complete stroke certification.

The telemedicine equipment will be acquired by SMH in the coming months. Sequoyah Memorial is excited to continue to improve efficiency, optimize quality and safety, and improve patient care. Knoke said, “the SMH Auxiliary volunteers are dedicated to supporting services for the patients in our community. They work diligently and are passionate about the people we serve. This aligns directly with the mission of SMH in providing local access for services that enhance the individual health and well-being of our patients.