Mercy breaks ground on virtual-care center

A resident of Rolla is among the early users of Mercy’s virtual doctor’s visits, a technological advancement shrinking the health care footprint and getting specialized care to patients more quickly.

For Vickie Stroot, who battles migraines, the virtual consultations eliminate the 100-mile trip to St. Louis to see a specialist at the Mercy Clinic Headache Center, according to the Wall Street Journal.

With 42 acute-care and specialty hospitals, 700 clinic and outpatient facilities and more than 2,100 doctors in four states, Mercy broke ground May 13 on a $50 million virtual-care center in Chesterfield. When it opens next year, the Wall Street Journal said it would house 75 telemedicine programs staffed by 300 medical professionals linked to Mercy facilities and partner hospitals.

More than half of U.S. hospitals now use some form of remote technology to deliver clinical services, according to the American Telemedicine Association, which says there are some 200 telemedicine networks currently serving 3,500 facilities.

Mercy estimates the center will manage more than 3 million telehealth visits in the next five years, the journal said.

Click here to watch Mercy’s virtual-care center launch.
 
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