Telemedicine could cut ER wait times

RELUCTANT TO SEEK EMERGENCY CARE

AT A HOSPITAL FOR ONE REASON.

THEY THINK THEY'LL BE STUCK IN A

CROWDED WAITING ROOM FOR HOURS

BEFORE THEY CAN SEE A DOCTOR.

>> WRAL'S DR. ALLEN MASK

EXPLAINS ONE HOSPITAL RIGHT HERE

IS USING TELEMEDICINE TO ADDRESS

THE PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: ARTH -- ANOTHER

LATE

NIGHT AT DUKE'S EMERGENCY

DEPARTMENT.

TYLER'S WIFE CONVINCED HIM TO

COME TO CHECK OUT HIS SYMPTOMS.

>> UPPER BACK PAINS, SHOOTING

PAINS UP MY NECK.

>> Reporter: HE DIDN'T SIT IN

THE ROOM LONG BEFORE AN

EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN LISTENED TO

HIS HEART AND LUNGS THROUGH THE

USE OF THIS TELEHEALTH CART.

>> THE PHYSICIAN CAN ASK ANY

QUESTIONS NECESSARY.

>> Reporter: DUKE EMERGENCY

PHYSICIAN SAYS A HANDFUL OF

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS USE THE

INTERACTIVE TOOL BEFORE PATIENTS

LEAVE THE HOSPITAL.

A DUKE PROGRAM TESTED THEIR USE

FOR NONCRITICAL PATIENTS SOON

AFTER THEY ARRIVE AT TIMES OF

PEAK DEMAND.

>> THE PATIENT IS NOT WAITING

ANY LONGER FOR ANYTHING TO BE

STARTING ON THEIR CARE.

>> Reporter: THEY CAN ORDER

BLOOD TESTS AND IMAGING, MAKE

REAL PROGRESS ON THE PATIENT'S

CASE.

>> WHEN THEY DO ULTIMATELY GET

TO A ROOM, A LOT OF INFORMATION

IS BACK AND SAVES THEM AN HOUR.

THAT ALLOWS US TO GET THE NEXT

PATIENT IN TO A ROOM.

>> YOU DO HAVE A SLOW HEART RATE

AND NO PAIN WITH ANY OF THAT.

>> NO, NOTHING.

>> Reporter: HE SAID HE'S

ACCUSTOM TO COMPUTER

INTERACTIONS LIKE SKYPE OR

TELEPRESENCE.

>> IT WAS VERY COMFORTABLE.

ANY WAY YOU CAN GET OUT OF THE

HOSPITAL QUICKSER A GREAT THING.

YOU CERTAINLY WANT TO BE TAKEN

CARE OF.

I FELT I GOT THE ATTENTION

NEEDED.

>> Reporter: DR. ALLEN MASK,

WRAL HEALTH TEAM.

>>> DUKE'S PILOT PROGRAM ENDS IN

APRIL BUT ALREADY THEY'VE SEEN

IT AS A NEW TECHNOLOGY.