ORANGE, Calif., Feb. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Joseph Health System (SJHS), a $4.6 billion Catholic healthcare organization, and AT&T* today announced an agreement with plans to implement a new telehealth pilot project that will allow patients and physicians in disparate locations to meet and consult via immersive video utilizing AT&T Telepresence Solution®.
Under this collaboration, St. Joseph Health System will have seven interactive wellness stations that will help improve access to specialty care, urgent care, wellness and health improvement services. This new pilot will be rolled out in the next several months in various Southern California locations including physician and patient sites.
The wellness stations will include a fully managed AT&T Telepresence Solution comprised of components including Cisco HealthPresence®, connectivity to the AT&T Business Exchange and AMD Global Telemedicine medical peripherals. This project will allow physicians and other health and wellness specialists to connect with patients virtually using the AT&T global network and real time, immersive multi-point video and audio technologies.
The focus of this pilot is to address the needs of patients who experience financial, social, geographic and other barriers to care.
"As a Catholic health care system, it is our goal to extend beyond our hospital walls to provide better access to care particularly specialty care where it hasn't been as accessible before," states Elliot Sternberg, M.D., Executive Vice President of Wellness and Health Improvement at St. Joseph Health System.
The program involves physical modular units equipped with the telepresence hardware and software that will be stationed at the various locations. Patients and care providers will conduct virtual visits with each other from these units.
Five initial sites have been selected by SJHS: Occupational Health Services at St. Jude Heritage Medical Group in Fullerton, Camino Health Clinic in San Juan Capistrano, St. Jude Neighborhood Clinic in Fullerton, Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach and a standalone kiosk in Rancho Cucamonga. Two additional sites are expected to be selected by year-end.
AT&T will demonstrate Telehealth Solutions and other healthcare solutions in the AT&T ForHealth(SM) portfolio at the HIMSS11 conference Feb. 20-24 in Orlando at booth #4862.
Learn more information about AT&T ForHealth.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About St. Joseph Health System
The St. Joseph Health System (SJHS) is a $4.6 billion integrated Catholic healthcare delivery system sponsored by the St. Joseph Health Ministry. We provide a full range of care facilities including acute care hospitals, home health agencies, hospice care, outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities, community clinics, and physician organizations throughout California, Texas and New Mexico. Our 24,000 dedicated employees strive daily to provide perfect care while building the healthiest communities and ensuring every encounter is sacred. SJHS is committed to maintaining a continuum of care that matches the diverse needs of the communities we serve. For more information about SJHS, log onto www.stjoe.org.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates - AT&T operating companies - are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice services. A leader in mobile broadband, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T | DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising. In 2010, AT&T again ranked among the 50 Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE® magazine.
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