Two months ago, I interviewed neurologist Ray Dorsey, M.D., co-director of the Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Rochester, for a story I wrote based on a study he led. He had a lot of interesting things to say and, unlike so many other physicians, was aware of multiple system atrophy, the disease that killed my dad in 2012, so I decided to have him on for a podcast to describe how he is using off-the-shelf telehealth technology to expand access to care, improve patient satisfaction and reduce costs.
The study focused on Parkinson's disease, as does a new study Dorsey is leading through http://connect.parkinson.org, but Dorsey sees this technology as promising for treating autism and Alzheimer's disease as well.
We, of course, discussed cross-state licensure holding back wider use of remote care, a subject that is very much in the news right now. In fact, Health Data Management just published a story I wrote about, in part, the launch of the Alliance for Connected Care. This group, headed by three former senators and including CVS Caremark, Walgreens, Verizon Communications, WellPoint, Welch Allyn, Cardinal Health and telehealth companies HealthSpot, Teladoc, Doctor on Demand, MDLive and GE-Intel Care Innovations, is advocating for regulatory changes to expand remote care.
Podcast details: Interview with University of Rochester neurologist Ray Dorsey, M.D. MP3, mono, 128 kbps, 16.3 MB. Running time 17:54.
1:30 Telehealth to expand access to care for people with chronic diseases
2:00 Shocking numbers about Medicare beneficiaries with Parkinson's who don't have a regular neurologist
2:45 Lack of reimbursement for telehealth even though it costs substantially less than in-person visits
3:38 Incentives to provide care in "high-cost, relatively unsafe environments"
3:58 Insurers "are never going to lead the way" in terms of innovation
4:40 Previous study funded by PatientsLikeMe, the Verizon Foundation and Medtronic funded his study
5:40 Findings of that study, and advantages of remote care
6:25 Telehealth to increase access to care, improve patient satisfaction and reduce costs
6:50 New study on "virtual house calls" about to launch in collaboration with Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)
7:37 Low-cost, off-the-shelf technology
9:45 Registering for PCORI study
10:40 Cross-state licensure issues, including new Alliance for Connected Care
12:10 Parameters and goals for new Connect.Parkinson study
13:35 How technology is creating care opportunities for "anyone, anywhere"
14:10 Dealing with the newly insured and with special-needs patients
15:50 Savings from preventing falls and other dangerous conditions
16:10 Enrollment for Connect.Parkinson
16:42 About the Center for Human Experimental Therapeutics
