密歇根新闻广播 你愿意接受远程医疗吗?

Telemedicine is the practice of treating patients remotely through telecommunication¹ and information technology.

It's on the rise in Michigan, especially in rural areas where they don't have enough doctors, physician assistants, or nurses.

Nancy Derringer looked at telemedicine in her story for Bridge Magazine.

According to Derringer, this technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we receive medical attention, especially for people who live in rural areas and may not have ready access to a doctor or other medical professional.

"They may live several hours away. They shouldn't have to drive that far for a 15-minute visit," she says.

Dr. Jed Magen is an osteopathic psychiatrist² who teaches at Michigan State University's College of Osteopathic Medicine, and he tells us that there are a few reasons medical professionals don't tend to set up shop in rural areas.

For one, he says that there's just more for medical professionals to do in the city.

"Rural areas are just not intrinsically as interesting, there are many more things to do in a city. From that standpoint, people are much more attracted to larger metropolitan³ areas," Magen says.

Magen also tells us that working in a rural area where there are few doctors can lead to a sense of professional isolation⁴ and being overworked.

"You can get overwhelmed very quickly, and so there's no relief, there's no backup," he says.

Derringer tells us that telemedicine can be great for monitoring chronic⁵ conditions, saving both the patient and their doctor time while freeing up space in hospitals for patients with conditions that require more urgent and active attention.

Practicing telemedicine requires a fairly robust⁶ Internet connection, which can also be a problem for those living in rural areas. But Derringer tells us that some medical facilities are making moves to remedy that problem, too.

"Northern Michigan hospitals are building facilities that have those super high-capacity Internet pipes so that they can have these glitch-free consults," she says.

So instead of having to drive hours away to meet with a certain specialist, patients could only need to drive to the nearest hospital or medical clinic to consult the same expert through the facility's dedicated⁷ telecommunication equipment.

There is some concern surrounding whether this technology can play nice with HIPAA laws, according to Derringer, which clinics and hospitals also hope to remedy by providing these facilities.

"Hospitals are very concerned that these links be secure," Derringer says. "So you may even have high-speed Internet in your home … but they're going to want you to go to a clinic.

"So it's not exactly like texting your doctor, but it is closer," she says.

Magen tells us that he was interested and enthusiastic when he first heard about telecommunication, a sentiment shared by many of his colleagues, and it's a similar story for his patients.

"You would think that people would be somewhat resistant⁸, would have questions and so on," he says. "But our experience is we have almost 100% acceptance," even among those who normally don't have much experience with electronic media.

Magen sees telemedicine as a means to improve access to proper medical consultation⁹, making it more convenient for both medical professionals and their patients.

"I think it makes so much sense that the only way it's going to go is to become more and more prevalent. It's really probably one of the few ways we can increase access," he tells us.

– Ryan Grimes, Stateside

1 telecommunication   

n.电信，远距离通信

参考例句：

• Telecommunication is an industry of service.电信业是一个服务型的行业。
• I only care about the telecommunication quality and the charge.我只关心通信质量和资费两个方面。

2 psychiatrist   

n.精神病专家；精神病医师

参考例句：

• He went to a psychiatrist about his compulsive gambling.他去看精神科医生治疗不能自拔的赌瘾。
• The psychiatrist corrected him gently.精神病医师彬彬有礼地纠正他。

3 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

4 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

5 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

6 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

7 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

8 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

9 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。