Family 411 - Telemedicine treating the elderly

SIOUXLAND NEWS — Some nursing homes have gone high tech to keep our elderly moms or dads from the stress of repeated hospital visits.

Tara Morgan walks us through how a doctor can be at their bedside, and not even in the same state.

Sometimes there’s nothing better than good old-fashioned bedside manner, mixed with the digital age.

"I have a resident that is complaining of shortness of breath,” said Dr. David Chess, founder of TripleCare.

Doctor Chess is paying William Philips a visit.

Telemedicine connects doctors with you elder relatives, any time of night.

"Sort of like talking to the doctor on the phone,” said Philips.

Doctor Chess says the standard of care is a leap-up from a phone call.

"Getting the doctor to the bedside when a patient was ill would make an enormous difference in people's lives,” said Dr. Chess.

Doctors walk nurses through an exam, they can even listen in on the stethoscope.

“The focus is on what we need to do safely, take care of that one individual,” said Denise Brown, a Nurse Director.

Brown says the more an elderly person visits a hospital, the increased chances for a relapse.

"It's better quality of care to keep everybody here,” said Brown.

Less stress on the elderly, and their family.

"If there's a critical incident that happens at 3 o'clock in the morning, we don't have to have the family meet the elder at the emergency room, our Doctor here can take care of it," said Dr. Chess.

It’s a diagnosis from a distance.

At 83-years-old, William has a heart health history.

"I would have been happier, I suppose, if the doctor had been here, but how long would it have taken him to get here?” asked Philips.

The doctor's bedside manner is the same.

The difference is having the advantage of keeping an elderly person where they're most comfortable.

Dr. Chess says the service is offered at nursing home facilities in eight states with the hopes of adding three more states before the summer.