Broadband Telemedicine Summit 2013
Broadband Illinois convened the inaugural Broadband Telemedicine Summit on Monday, May 20, bringing together healthcare leaders, government officials and broadband enthusiasts from three states to discuss how high-speed internet is revolutionizing the medical industry.
The event attracted about 200 people and concluded with an action planning session led by the Telehealth Resource Centers serving Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. This session identified potential telehealth solutions for targeted needs and developed specific action steps for each segment, including inpatient, outpatient, mental health and home telehealth.
Telemedicine equipment and software also was demonstrated, as Matt Wenzel, CEO of Hedrick Medical Center (left, standing), and Tim Hulen, sales director of InTouch Health (center), showed how doctors can examine patients and interact with other medical staff in real-time through high-speed internet technology.
The event not only impacted the telehealth community by connecting top professionals with stakeholders and broadband experts, but attendees left the event with set goals and action plans to further the quality and availab
ility of telemedicine in their perspective fields.
“Access to high-capacity broadband is quickly reshaping the medical industry,” said Drew Clark, executive director of Broadband Illinois. “New, innovative applications are allowing doctors and nurses to serve their patients like never before. In bringing together leaders to discuss emerging technologies, needs, solutions and changes, the Broadband Telemedicine Summit helped enhance and stimulate Broadband Illinois’ effort to bring Better Broadband, Better Lives to all citizens of the state.”
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon attended the event, and said that telemedicine is the future of providing high quality, affordable care to people of all demographics.
“Technology uptick is a demand in our society that I don’t know we’ll ever be able to keep up with,” Nixon said. “That’s why we’ve attempted to focus on the areas that would have the most impact in the quickest amount of time… Expanding broadband accessibility to healthcare providers will mean access to more and quicker specialized care that is often life-saving to patients.",
Laura Zaremba, director of the Illinois Office of Health Information Technology, addressed the crowd on behalf of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, who she said has been a leading supporter of broadband adoption.
“Gov. Quinn is an ardent supporter of efforts to expand broadband service to rural and underserved areas,” Zaremba said. “Because of its tremendous potential to create and expand jobs, spur innovation and really transform healthcare. The expanded access to high quality healthcare that broadband-powered telemedicine can deliver really does align perfectly with the ideal of everybody in and nobody out. The best quality healthcare can be delivered regardless of where you are as a patient.”
More than 20 speakers addressed the summit, including keynote speaker Curtis Lowery, MD, of the ANGELS Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Other speakers included Pat Schou, executive director of the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network and Dr. Christopher Veremakis, medical director of Mercy Safewatch, the largest single-hub remote electronic intensive care unit in the country.
Telehealth leaders and physicians at the summit echoed that patients are better served when they can receive medical examination and consultation in the comfort of their own homes. With continued Broadband Illinois efforts like the Better Broadband, Better Lifeline program, Partnership for a Connected Illinois is helping ensure all citizens have access to the connections they need.
Sponsors Included: 
Press:
Telemedicine Summit to Bring Together Healthcare Leaders from 3 States
Earlybird Registration Available for Broadband Telemedicine Summit
Expert Panel to Discuss Healthcare Needs and Challenges at Broadband Telemedicine Summit
Agenda:
7:30-8 a.m. Registration, Breakfast and Vendor Set-up
8:15-8:25 a.m. Conference Welcome
• Anne Madonia, Communications and Program Director, Broadband Illinois
• Drew Clark, Executive Director, Broadband Illinois
8:25-9:15 a.m. Developing a Systemic Response to Healthcare Needs
• Keynote Speaker: Curtis Lowery, MD, ANGELS Program University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
• Introduced by: Charter Business
9:15-10:15 a.m. Healthcare Needs and Challenges
• Moderator: Deborah Seale, Conference Chairwoman
• Thomas Hale, Mercy Health System, Missouri and Arkansas
• Pat Schou, Executive Director, Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network
• Nancy Kaszak, Telehealth Consultant
• Curtis Lowery, MD, ANGELS Program University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
10:15-10:30 a.m. Break
10:30-11 a.m. Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, Video by Arkanasas Gov. Mike Beebe, Representative from Illinois Gov.
Pat Quinn.
11:00-noon Broadband Carriers Impact on Telemedicine
• Moderator: Drew Clark, Executive Director, Broadband Illinois
• Michael Morey, Bluebird Network
• Ed Simcox, AT&T-Telehealth Solution
• Ross Bopp, Charter Business
• Matthew Wenzel, CEO Headrick Medical Center
• Tim Hulen, InTouch Health
Noon-12:20 p.m. Break for Buffet Lunch Service
12:20-1:30 p.m. Luncheon Keynote
• Keynote: Jon Linkous, American Telemedicine Association
• Introduced by: Andrew Marchese, Microsoft
Telehealth Policy Update
• Moderator: Ron Emerson, Polycom (or Dr. Deb Jeffries, Polycom)
• Jon Linkous, American Telemedicine Association
• Ray Hanley, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care and former Medicaid director
• Mario Gutierrez (via video conference), National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
1:30-2:00 p.m.
Microsoft and Polycom Presentation
• Andrew Marchese, Microsoft and Ron Emerson/Dr. Deb Jeffries, Polycom
2:00-2:15 p.m. Break
2:15-3:15 p.m. Opportunities for Integration of Telehealth Services and Electronic HIS
• Moderator: Deborah Seale, Conference Chairwoman
• Laura Zaremba, Illinois Health IT Coordinator and Illinois DHFS
• Rachel Mutrux, Missouri Telehealth Network and Missouri HIT Assistance Center
• Kathy Chorba, California Telehealth Network and HIE integration
• Christopher Veremakis or Wendy Deibert, Mercy Health System
3:15-4:30 p.m. Action Planning: Identifying Potential Telehealth Solutions for Targeted Needs and Developing Action Plan
• Moderator:
Rachel Mutrux, Director, Missouri Telehealth Network
• Break-out groups with Telehealth Resource Center Facilitators leading each group
4:30-4:45 p.m. Wrap-up and Next Steps
• Deborah Seale, Conference Chairwoman