Videoconferencing.org---Interviews---Mary Jo Maclaughlin

Mary Jo Maclaughlin

Videoconferencing.org would like to thank Mary Jo Maclaughlin for taking the time to do this interview.

Q. What does your job entail?

A. As Director of Regional Information Exchange at Eastern Maine Healthcare, one of my responsibilities includes the management of the Northern New England Telemedicine System (NNETS), a collaboration of several regional health care facilities in Maine. Because NNETS is an informal collaboration, much of the time that I spend engaged in NNETS activities consists of encouraging the development of clinical services to be offered, the coordination of educational opportunities, and the overall planning for the maintenance and expansion of the system.

Q. How long have you been using videoconferencing?

A. Eastern Maine Medical Center, The Acadia Hospital, Blue Hill Memorial Hospital, and The Aroostook Medical Center were the four originating sites comprising the Northern New England Telemedicine System. The system was implemented early in 1996. It is a self-funded system, unique because most telemedicine systems active in 1996 received partial or full federal funding. At that time, it was utilized primarily for administrative conferencing and continuing health provider education. Beginning early in 1999, clinical services in seven specialty areas began to be offered through NNETS. At the present time, NNETS consists of thirteen sites throughout Maine. We also collaborate with another Maine based telemedicine system, providing education and clinical services.

Q. What kind of equipment do you use/ recommend?

A. The Northern New England Telemedicine chose PictureTel equipment in 1996. We have continued to support this standard throughout the years. We have a variety of equipment dispersed throughout the system, including Concordes, SwiftSites and desktop units. At the present time, we have chosen to continue with one brand of equipment in order to limit problems of interoperability and to standardize support and troubleshooting procedures. An extremely small support staff requires that we minimize our opportunities for failure. We do, however, routinely conference, intermixing PictureTel, Polycom, and VTEL equipment that is utilized by our colleagues, and have experienced a very acceptable level of success.

Q. If possible please give us an example of some applications you have used?

A. As with many other telemedicine systems throughout the country, our system continues to be used more often for administrative and educational sessions than to provide clinical support. Utilizing the PictureTel Montage multi-point videoconferencing bridge, we often include member sites that are geographically separated by more than 300 miles. Considering the "windshield time" saved by our executives and clinical staff, not only are dollars and time saved, but a greater level of participation is available to rural locations because travel time need not be included in the decision to participate or decline. In addition, the telemedicine system allows physicians who would otherwise feel isolated in the more rural locations, to establish and continue collegial collaborations between the larger medical center and the small health clinic.

Q. In what ways have video helped you save time, money, or make better faster decisions?

A. Aside from administrative and educational applications, we currently offer primary care physicians in rural Maine opportunities to seek clinical consultations for patients who need care provided by endocrinologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists and emergency and trauma trained physicians. The opportunity for a patient to remain in his or her community and obtain specialty consultations is well received by the patient, his or her family and the family physician.

Q. How do the end users feel about videoconferencing?

A. Generally speaking, our customers are very satisfied with the ability to utilize videoconferencing. Problems common to all of us across America, such as the occasional unreliability of our ISDN lines, plague us and cause some amount of dissatisfaction and skepticism among our users. Overall, our customers are pleased and welcome the opportunity videoconferencing affords them.

Q. Besides the codec what other add-on devices or peripherals, help make successful calls?

A. We do not employ a high level of peripheral devices in our system. The larger hospitals have access to document cameras, but utilize them sporadically . The originating location of most of our administrative and educational presentations routinely utilize the document camera, VCR, and an overhead projection system for laptop based presentations. Clinically, we do not own any medical devices. However, those clinics that utilize our services are able to transmit images to us utilizing a hand held camera, otoscope, stethescope and dermscope, which allow specialists to have a closer look at conditions upon which they are consulting.

Q. How has the world of video changed since you started using it?

A. Video has become a much more affordable option for most health care organizations. Across the nation, most telemedicine programs have received public funding. Those who didn't generally were not able to begin a program. In 1996, the only video solution available came at a cost that exceeded $40,000.00. Today, a healthcare organization can obtain equipment for as little as four or five thousand dollars. In addition, at least in our state, ISDN has become available to virtually any location in the state. In 1996, all ISDN capability was centered in a sole location in the state and was available as virtual ISDN to only selected locations. Finally, the capabilities of lower end video units have dramatically improved. Much more can now be accomplished at much lower bandwidth, resulting in lower monthly telecommunications expense and increased participation.

Q. What do you see in the future in regards to videoconferencing?

A. I believe that the future of video for healthcare is in the home. When health care providers are able to interact with patients in the home, with adequate clarity to support the patient's health, the circle will be complete. When hospital video units, clinic units and home units are able to interoperate over telecommunications lines that are affordable to the casual user, we will have the video support that is needed to care for patients' needs.