Technology offers 24/7/365 access to HealthONE’s H1VN Telemedicine Network neurologists, psychiatrists and behavioral health clinicians for the diagnosis, treatment of stroke victims and patients with neurologic and behavioral health needs.

HealthONE Virtual Network (H1VN) is now providing telemedicine stroke-neurology, acute-neurology, psychiatry and behavioral health assessment services to Haxtun Health. The H1VN Telemedicine Network is an innovative system that uses technology to bring the best of stroke, neurology, psychiatry and behavioral health care to Northeast Colorado.

“Every second counts in minimizing the damage a stroke can cause to the brain — quick assessment and personalized care are key,” says Dr. Chris Fanale, who developed the H1VN Tele-Stroke Program. “Having this state-of-the-art telemedicine program puts the stroke specialist instantly in the room with a patient and ER physician. As a stroke neurologist, I can have a conversation with the patient and family, examine the patient’s ability to move and speak, and even zoom in to assess pupil reactivity. We can talk to EMS and ER staff and assess monitors and vital signs immediately. There is no other system in the region that is currently offering this level of care to stroke victims.”

“Tele-psychiatry is equally as effective as face-to-face visits and allows us to offer high-quality psychiatric services round the clock regardless of where the facility is located,” explains Dr. Michelle DeNault, Tele-Psychiatry Regional Medical Director. “We have a core team of employed physicians who deliver timely, accurate and complete psychiatric assessments and treatments, and work collaboratively with the hospital treatment team to effectively treat patients, reduce wait times and inappropriate commitments and improve compliance.”

Our Tele-behavioral health clinicians offer full behavioral health assessments (BHA) by licensed clinicians (LCSW, LSW, LPCC, LPC, LMFT, or PsyD) and are able to help determine the safety to discharge or transfer to inpatient behavioral health. They are also able to help manage inpatient placement, if appropriate.

H1VN allows for a neurologist, psychiatrist or behavioral health clinician to be linked via telemedicine cart to emergency physicians and providers at Haxtun Health. By utilizing the H1VN technology, Haxtun Health will be instantly connected to a stroke-trained neurologist, psychiatrist or behavioral health clinician. The system allows patients suffering from neurological events, stroke-like conditions or behavioral health episodes to be examined and diagnosed, while the patient is still in Haxtun.

The telemedicine technology utilizes a mobile cart with an onboard computer, monitor, high-resolution camera and microphone to simultaneously transmit the audio and video portions of a physician consult. Patient medical records, including radiology scans, can be accessed. The patient, local physician/provider and the neurologist/psychiatrist/behavioral health clinician can conduct online consults anywhere there is an internet connection.

“We are excited to be on the cutting edge of technology to provide the best, most up-to-date care to our critically ill patients,” said Dewane Pace, CEO at Haxtun Health. “The HealthONE Telemedicine Network will allow us to get quick access to specialty consultations when the response time for a stroke patient is so vital.”

A stroke occurs when a clot blocks blood flow to the brain or when an artery in the brain ruptures, resulting in uncontrolled bleeding. Brain cells critically depend on a consistent flow of oxygen and glucose rich blood. When this flow is interrupted by a stroke, brain cells begin to die. Because our body cannot replicate nerve cells, strokes can lead to permanent brain damage and disability. The negative effects of stroke depend upon which part of the brain the stroke occurs in. Therefore, strokes produce a wide array of symptoms, including paralysis, inability to speak, memory loss and loss of cognitive ability.

A need for mental health assistance may present in a variety of ways, through emergency medicine or inpatient care. Rapid evaluations can be requested to provide psychiatric medication recommendations, short-term and long-term treatment recommendations, full psychiatric evaluations with diagnosis, and behavioral health assessments with bed placement or discharge safety plan.

Telemedicine is used across the country for consults in a variety of medical specialties, including stroke, mental health, trauma care, burns, pediatric care, pharmacy, chronic care management and many other areas. Telemedicine’s potential is vast and has become an accepted practice in a growing number of remote communities.

Telemedicine is a significant and rapidly growing component of healthcare in the United States. There are currently about 200 telemedicine networks, with 3,500 service sites in the US. Over half of all U.S. hospitals now use some form of telemedicine.

About HealthONE

HealthONE, as part of the HCA Healthcare Continental Division, was named the top health system in the state by IBM Watson Health and our system was named one of the top five large health systems in the country. HealthONE and HCA Healthcare have also been named 11 consecutive times by Ethisphere as a World’s Most Ethical Company. HealthONE is the largest healthcare system in the metro Denver area with more than 11,000 employees. As part of the HealthONE system of care, The Medical Center of Aurora, Centennial Hospital, North Suburban Medical Center, Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Rose Medical Center, Sky Ridge Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center and Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital work together to provide a higher level of care.

In addition, our family of services includes several hospital free-standing emergency departments and numerous ambulatory surgery centers, CareNow urgent care and occupational medicine clinics, physician practices, imaging centers, and AIRLIFE-DENVER, which provides critical care air and ground transportation across a seven-state region. Consistently among the Denver Business Journals’ list of top ten corporate philanthropists in the Denver-metro area, HealthONE provided $66M in uncompensated care, contributed more than $650,000 and supports over 150 organizations through cash and in-kind donations last year alone.

To learn more about the HealthONE family, visit HealthONECares.com.

About Haxtun Health

Haxtun Health, located in Haxtun, CO, is enhancing healthcare for all those who call northeast Colorado home. Rooted in tradition, we’ve become much more than a hospital. Haxtun Health is here to support prevention and wellness and to help you when you are sick or injured. We value your health and take a personal interest in you.

“The Haxtun Health team truly cares about you and your health. Our talented physicians and caring staff make sure that you receive the best care possible in a thoughtful and compassionate way.

At Haxtun Health, we are committed to providing advanced, state-of-the-art services to you. From advanced radiology procedures and imaging to laboratory testing, physical therapy and a retail pharmacy, we work hard to provide you with “big city” healthcare services right here in our community. Whether you need emergency room, inpatient or long-term care or you need to visit with a doctor/provider in our clinic, we are here for you.”

You really have to experience our focused, compassionate care that we provide to see how healthcare can and should be, said Dewane Pace, CEO.

To learn more about Haxtun Hospital District, go to http://www.haxtunhealth.org