Arizona turns to telemedicine as physician shortage threatens care

Technology is expanding healthcare in states such as Arizona at a time when a shortage of physicians threatens the reach of care.

Arizona is about 500 to 750 doctors short, Dan Derksen, director of the Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona, tells Arizona Public Media. That shortage is causing the state to turn to telemedicine and other health IT services to reach people in rural areas.

The Arizona Telemedicine Program at the University of Arizona, for example, reaches people in outlying areas who would have to drive into Phoenix or Tucson for care. In addition, the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale uses telemedicine to help patients experiencing stroke symptoms get the proper care. Article