Trauma Tele-Medicine Program

​Space age medicine has landed at Copper Queen Community Hospital, in Bisbee, via computers that will electronically send real time video images to the University Medical Center trauma team in Tucson.​

​The system brings consultative expertise to a new level as the Copper Queen Emergency Room staff transmits live images and information to the UMC trauma surgeon and discusses the patient’s care and treatment options with the highly specialized staff at a major tertiary care center. The patient can immediately benefit from the consult rather than wait for a transport before being evaluated by the consulting physician.
 

​While rural hospital staffs garner a wide variety of experiences in their emergency rooms, they do not always see a large number of the same type of cases, which would be the case in a large medical center. Therefore, staff can have the backup of medical experience via the tele-trauma system, and be given direction on how to proceed with caring for the patient if the situation warrants.

The use of a visual image provides the consulting physician a much better way to assess the patient, prior to transfer rather than by relying on just verbal descriptions and data over the phone. In many trauma cases there is a “golden hour” when treatment is most effective and tele-trauma can speed treatment and save lives. This system will allow a more efficient and effective transfer of patients by providing more clinical data.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona feels so strongly that lives can be saved by Tele-Medicine, that they gifted the money to help pay for the program to link CQCH to the University Medical Center in Tucson, the only trauma facility in Southern Arizona.

Dermatology Screening at CQMA Rural Health Clinics

​The hospital’s Rural Health Clinics in Bisbee, Douglas, and Palominas offers Tele-Dermatology for our patients who are in need of an evaluation of skin problems such as lesions, growths, and unusual or changing warts and moles. The physicians and staff have been trained to take photos of suspicious areas, which are then sent using a secure electronic method to a board certified dermatologist on the staff of a Carondelet hospital  in Tucson. The dermatologist provides a consult and advises the patient’s local physician of the nature of the problem and the proper follow up care. A biopsy, and eventually an outpatient surgical procedure may be the most appropriate treatment, or based on the consult could reassure the patient that nothing further is needed.

Patients are advised to see their primary care physicians  to access this program which is now available at Copper Queen Medical Associates in Bisbee, Douglas, and Palominas.

 

Copper Valley Home Health Tele-Medicine Program

 

Our home health patients are able to be monitored in the comfort of their homes by a system that connects patients with the hospital so they may be assessed by healthcare professionals. The system can monitor vital signs, weight, blood pressure, respirations and other aspects of care so that patients are monitored between scheduled nursing visits. Unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office or emergency room can be avoided through the use of the monitors that are connected through phone lines. The patient can be seen via a video screen so that wounds can be examined and the nurse can also look for other signs of medical problems.

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Copper Valley Home Health serves patients in their homes, treating a variety of problems. Most people want to remain in their homes and live independently as long as possible, but many older adults suffer from chronic conditions, and need care to be comfortable and to treat conditions such as disease management, post surgical care, changes in vital signs, ostomy care, indwelling tubes, and IVs.

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Tele-Medicine is a way to improve access to care and to expand the availability of health care professionals. Tele-Medicine patients can be monitored without requiring lengthy transports, or visits to the emergency room, and can improve access to care with more immediate consults and viewing that will allow medical personnel to evaluate changes in condition.

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The Tele-Medicine equipment may consist of a camera placed in the patient’s home with otherl items that measure blood pressure, pulse oxygen, weight and / or EKG. If a camera is not necessary for the patient’s condition, it is not included with the peripheral devices. Information on the patient’s condition is sent daily and the Home Health Office monitors the patient for abnormalities and can provide access to several specialists for consultation or the patient’s primary physician. There are strict privacy protocols set up to guard the patient’s medical records and the patient must give permission to be visually monitored.

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Copper Valley Home Health currently has over 20 clients using this program.

To learn more about Home Health Care, please click here.

 

Tele-Stroke Program

Tele-Stroke is a service that connects Copper Queen Community Hospital Emergency Staff with Neurologists at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale. Protocols are followed in consultation with the specialists to determine whether the patient should receive TPA, which is a clot dissolving medication that needs to be given with three hours of developing stroke symptoms. The consultation gives patients who arrive promptly a better chance of diminishing or avoiding the long term damage strokes can cause. Local physicians are given the added expertise of the Mayo Clinic physicians to serve patients best.

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Using computer and video equipment, the Mayo Clinic physician can view the patient and a CAT Scan of the patient’s brain on the same equipment to determine the patient’s condition and whether TPA can be administered.

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CQCH is the only hospital in Cochise County to offer stroke care 24/7/365.