Using Telemedicine to Deliver Patient-Centered Care to Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Anywhere.

For 2013-2014, the Davis Phinney Foundation is funding Dr. E. Ray Dorsey
the University of Rochester’s study,Using Telemedicine to Deliver
Patient-Centered Care to Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Anywhere.

Many people with Parkinson’s are not able to receive the medical care they need to 
take better charge of their condition and live well today. Barriers include distance, 
disability, and distribution of doctors. Using simple web-based video conferencing, 
Dr. Dorsey’s previous studies have demonstrated the value of a telemedicine 
approach. Doctors specializing in Parkinson’s care meet with patients over 
the internet, assessing symptoms and discussing patient concerns
during the telemedicine visit. Compared with in-person, clinic visits,
previous studies show that each telemedicine visit saved participants, 
on average, 100 miles of travel and 3 hours of time, and had comparable
 benefits to an in–person doctor’s visit.

Dr. Dorsey’s 2013-2014 study aims to expand this telemedicine program in four states
 (Maryland, Florida, New York, and California), enabling more patients to receive care 
from Parkinson disease specialists, independent of their location, level of disability, and
 ability to pay. The primary purpose is to improve the quality of life for individuals
 (and their caregivers and families) with Parkinson’s disease by measuring the impact
of remote care, demonstrating the national feasibility of conducting remote evaluations,
 and assessing the long-term acceptability to patients in receiving ongoing care
remotely through telemedicine.