News Feature | February 27, 2015

Telehealth Implementation Aims To Reach ALS Patients

By Karla Paris

Telehealth Care

ALS patients in remote and underserved communities in northern Michigan now have the ability to connect to specialists at Bronson Methodist Hospital.

This past summer, the ALS Association generated more than $115 million, thanks in part to the viral Ice Bucket Challenge initiative. The Challenge translated into local support in communities nationwide. Given this summer’s unprecedented awareness around ALS, most of The Association’s chapters in both large and small markets have seen a 30 to 100 percent increase in registrations for their Walks. The ALS Association Western Pennsylvania Chapter, for example, saw a substantial increase in the total number of walk participants at its most recent even in Pittsburgh: 1,977 participants in 2013 compared to 3,277 people in 2014.

In Michigan, recent donations to the ALS Association made it possible for one of its hospitals to implement a telehealth system to serve ALS patients in need of care.

Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich. is now delivering improved patient care and outcomes using the JEMS Technology Telehealth System. Implementation was supported by the ALS Association Michigan Chapter and the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Family Foundation in conjunction with technology partner, JEMS Technology.

The JEMS Telehealth System connects physicians and ALS patients in remote and underserved communities in northern Michigan to specialists at Bronson Methodist Hospital, where expert care is available.

Bronson Methodist Hospital is part of the Bronson Healthcare system, and its workforce of more than 7,700 employees. The Bronson Healthcare system includes:

Using the JEMS Telehealth System, medical professionals send live streaming video to a specialty physician, via an iPhone, iPad, or Android-based phone or tablet. The specialist reviews the video on