Rutgers aims to reach underserved communities with telemedicine

Patients in and around Newark, New Jersey, will now be able to receive healthcare through the use of telemedicine, thanks to the partnership of Rutgers School of Nursing and Rutgers Business School.

Using SmartCareDoc technology, patients and physicians are able to connect virtually using internet-connected devices such as laptops, tablets and mobile phones. This development in telemedicine allows for physicians to interact and examine patients, listen to heartbeats, check temperature and even perform an electrocardiogram in real-time.

Researchers at Rutgers School of Nursing will be testing this technology on 10 patients in Newark public housing to analyzing how well the program will work in populations that have limited access to healthcare.

“Telemedicine is rapidly becoming an accepted part of the health care delivery system,” said Ann Bagchi, a registered nurse and instructor at the School of Nursing. “When the technology is used appropriately, it has a unique capacity to improve access, lower costs and improve health care outcomes.”