High speed Internet and technology changes the way doctors work

From access-it-anywhere medical records to telemedicine, doctors and hospitals are using high speed Internet and new technologies to help patients in new ways. In both diagnosis and treatment, medical professionals are taking advantage of technology for improvements and efficiency.

The result? Doctors are caring for their patients, even if they're not in the same room, with a higher quality and efficiency of care.

"If I'm a patient, my physician can stay connected to me, even if they're not sitting right next to me," said DeAnn Tucker, director of health information management at Owensboro Medical Health System.

Using high speed Internet connections, doctors are able to check in on their patients from anywhere in the world. From patient history to current vital signs, doctors are receiving the information on computers and "smart" cell phones. This ability to instantaneously send and share information leads to an increase in productivity and makes it easier to share information or get a second opinion from other doctors, regardless of location. Instead of waiting days to ship x-ray film, a few clicks on the computer and doctors around the world can work simultaneously to treat patients.

"It doesn't matter if they're out of town or at home," Tucker said. "All they need is a high-speed Internet connection."

It also increases the convenience for doctors, allowing them to review a patient's medical history before they see the patient, even if they haven't yet started the day at the hospital.

"They can actually review the entire history of the patient from home to get the historical picture before they come in to treat them," Tucker said.

This new technology does not replace physical examinations or contact between the patient and the doctor, it simply enhances it. By having doctors in constant communication with patients, having immediate access to data and images all around the world, and being able to consult with other doctors about the same data and images -- high speed Internet improves patient care.

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