"ANGELS" Helping Deliver Healthy Babies
By: Stephanie Jackson, KARK 4 News
Updated: January 12, 2007
You don't have to travel to Little Rock anymore, to consult with the high-risk pregnancy specialists at UAMS --
the only ones in the state.
It's now, simply a matter of a camera and a monitor.
Although she's more than 140 miles away, Rachel Alderson's high-risk pregnancy is being managed by Dr. Curtis Lowery, at UAMS.
"This year we'll see over a thousand patients."
It all has to do with A.N.G.E.L.S… the Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System. Through this technology, doctors at UAMS, who specialize in high-risk pregnancies can consult with patients, in this case... more than 2 hours away, in Texarkana.
"The gas... it saves the travel, and I can stay here and be able to come to my regular hospital where I'll be delivering at and talk to someone out of town, " Rachel says.
"Although this is technology, it's not about technology, it's about personal relationships."
In Rachel's case, her unborn baby girl, is a couple of weeks behind, in terms of growth. While a nurse in Texarkana performs the ultrasound, Dr. Lowery can see and hear everything going on... And so can Rachel. Dr. Lowery also says, though a little anxious at first, about seeing a doctor so far away, most patients quickly warm up to the idea.
"And almost all the patients that participate in this are comfortable and they're happy they didn't have to travel long distances."
Most of the moms-to-be, will be able to deliver their babies at their hometown hospital. Right now, there are 19 satellite clinics all over the state.
A.N.G.E.L.S. Telemedicine Sites:
Rogers
Fayetteville
Johnson City
Ft. Smith
Mena
Batesville
Searcy
Newport
Jonesboro
Blytheville
Hot Springs
Stuttgart
Helena
Lake Village
Crossett
Texarkana
Hope
Monticello
You can call (866) 273-3835 or (501) 526-7425 for more information.
Although she's more than 140 miles away, Rachel Alderson's high-risk pregnancy is being managed by Dr. Curtis Lowery, at UAMS.
"This year we'll see over a thousand patients."
It all has to do with A.N.G.E.L.S… the Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System. Through this technology, doctors at UAMS, who specialize in high-risk pregnancies can consult with patients, in this case... more than 2 hours away, in Texarkana.
"The gas... it saves the travel, and I can stay here and be able to come to my regular hospital where I'll be delivering at and talk to someone out of town, " Rachel says.
"Although this is technology, it's not about technology, it's about personal relationships."
In Rachel's case, her unborn baby girl, is a couple of weeks behind, in terms of growth. While a nurse in Texarkana performs the ultrasound, Dr. Lowery can see and hear everything going on... And so can Rachel. Dr. Lowery also says, though a little anxious at first, about seeing a doctor so far away, most patients quickly warm up to the idea.
"And almost all the patients that participate in this are comfortable and they're happy they didn't have to travel long distances."
Most of the moms-to-be, will be able to deliver their babies at their hometown hospital. Right now, there are 19 satellite clinics all over the state.
A.N.G.E.L.S. Telemedicine Sites:
Rogers
Fayetteville
Johnson City
Ft. Smith
Mena
Batesville
Searcy
Newport
Jonesboro
Blytheville
Hot Springs
Stuttgart
Helena
Lake Village
Crossett
Texarkana
Hope
Monticello
You can call (866) 273-3835 or (501) 526-7425 for more information.
