Telemedicine: The cure for New Hampshire

With the 2008 election looming, health care has become the dominant domestic issue in the United States. For a variety of reasons, millions of Americans lack access to quality health services--especially those living in rural areas.

In a recent column in the Concord Monitor, Dr. Robert Maccani argues that one of the keys to fixing this mess in New Hampshire is telemedicine. As the physician writes,

The things that make New Hampshire look healthy -- our mountains, our open land and our bracing winter weather -- also make health-care delivery difficult. Our mountain areas isolate us from primary and specialty medical care. Some of our rural populations are underserved. Frequent and prolonged hazardous driving conditions can make it difficult to keep medical appointments.

New Hampshire is a perfect candidate for telemedicine. Telemedicine is the transfer of electronic medical data--images, sounds, live interactive video and patient records--from one place to another, preferably at high speeds and without interruption. Telemedicine can improve public-health delivery, support long-distance clinical care, health administration and patient and professional health-related education.

By building high speed internet infrastructure that reaches every citizen in every corner of the state, New Hampshire can make sure its residents' access to health care is no longer constrained by their geography. The state's handful of advanced medical centers would be able to diagnose and treat patients remotely, saving time, money--and people's lives.

Broadband access critical to health care (Concord Monitor)