College partners with telemedicine collaborative

College partners with telemedicine collaborative

Courtesy GVSU

A local college is joining forces with a telemedicine collaborative to help train physician assistant students.

Grand Valley State University said this winter it is partnering with Answers Health on Demand, or AHOD, of Grand Rapids, to give GVSU physician assistant students the chance to learn about telemedicine.

AHOD is comprised of independent providers throughout Michigan.

Telemedicine allows health care providers to offer online diagnoses and treatments via secure two-way video from a smartphone, tablet or PC.

It is most often used for patients who have issues such as child health concerns, fever, flu, ear pain or rashes or who need prescription refills.

“Telemedicine is the future of health care, so we want our students to gain a general understanding of how it works and how it can be utilized,” said Martina Reinhold, assistant professor of physician assistant studies, GVSU.

“We see the use of telemedicine growing,” said Theresa Bacon-Baguley, associate dean for research in the College of Health Professions, GVSU. Along with Reinhold, she initiated integrating telemedicine into GVSU’s curriculum.

Students will now participate in a rotation with AHOD providers to observe incoming telemedicine appointments, get an overview of billing and reimbursements and learn about the legal aspects of telemedicine.

"We are excited to partner with Grand Valley to help educate the next generation of providers,” said Haley Kamp, program manager, AHOD.

Bacon-Baguley added she feels "very fortunate to be part of an institution that values and supports programming that facilitates student success in a rapidly changing medical landscape."

GVSU

Grand Valley State University’s main campus is situated on 1,322 acres in Allendale.

Classes also are offered at the university’s Robert C. Pew campus in downtown Grand Rapids and Meijer campus in Holland.

The school, founded in 1960, offers 88 undergraduate degrees and 37 graduate degrees.