Friday 22 January 2016

State Prisons Turn to Telemedicine to Improve Health and Save Money

Texas prison psychiatrist Pradan Nathan recalls an unsettling face-to-face session with a dissatisfied patient about a dozen years ago at a maximum security prison in East Texas. The large man, a member of a notorious prison gang, insisted Nathan prescribe him a particular medication. Nathan said he didn’t need it.

“I’m going to stab you to death the next time you come in here,” the prisoner growled.

Nathan feels a lot safer these days. He sees up to 16 patients a day from a suburban Houston office here, using an audio console, a camera and a monitor to treat inmates at two state prisons — including one with a death row — at least 30 miles from where he sits. He’s still threatened occasionally, but now it’s from a comforting distance. Needless to say, he’s a big fan of telemedicine. For the full article click here 



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