U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn tours Mercy telehealth and virtual care program

Posted on: 10/18/19


 
Pictured left to right are: Dr. Daniel Pascucci, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City telehospitalist; Jim Gebhart, president, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City; Congresswoman Kendra Horn; Dustin Yowell, Mercy virtual director for community integration; Dr. Ariel Lufkin, medical director of telemedicine, Oklahoma; Sandra Harrison, OHA VP of regulatory and legal affairs.
Last week, Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City hosted a live demonstration of telemedicine for U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn with Oklahoma City-based hospitalists Dr. Ariel Lufkin and Dr. Daniel Pascucci, along with a live demonstration of Mercy Virtual from Chesterfield, Mo. The Mercy Virtual Care Center opened in October 2015. It is the first and only facility of its kind with no inpatient beds. The four-story, 125,000 square-foot building is the cornerstone of Mercy’s virtual care program and serves as a nationally recognized center for developing and delivering telehealth.  

The Oklahoma impact of telehealth is to alleviate physician shortages and keep patients closer to home in critical access hospitals. Although 20% of the country’s population live in a rural area, just 10% of physicians work in these communities. Telehealth can improve access to care, particularly for underserved rural parts of our state by expanding the care team and specialists able to care for patients in rural areas. Critical access hospitals are often the second largest employers for these communities and telehealth can help maintain financial viability for them. (Sandra Harrison)

Save the dates for OHA 2022 events

Posted on: 2/18/22


It’s a new year and a new lineup of important events for you and your staff. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to engage in advocacy, education and networking all year long. Mark your calendar now!

OHA Advocacy Day - Tuesday, April 5, Oklahoma History Center. Join us for our annual legislative day. We will begin with a member briefing at 3 p.m., followed by a legislative reception at 5 p.m. Watch for registration materials soon.

OHA-PAC Golf Tournament - Tuesday, June 21, Jimmie Austin Golf Club at OU, Norman. Time and details TBA.

OHA Health Care Leaders Forum - Tuesday, July 19 - Thursday, July 21, Shangri-La Resort, Grand Lake. Watch for registration soon!

OHA Connect 22 - Wednesday, Nov. 9 - Friday, Nov. 11, Oklahoma City Convention Center and Omni Hotel, downtown Oklahoma City. Plan now to attend OHA’s annual conference and exhibit hall. More details to come.

Details on these events and other upcoming education opportunities will be available on the OHA website.