FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2024
TELEMEDICINE PARTNERSHIP FOR SOUTH CAROLINIANS PREVENTS ER VISITS, SAVING THOUSANDS
Georgetown County, SC and Maplewood, NJ — The Georgetown County Board of Disabilities & Special Needs (GCBDSN), a support provider organization for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) in South Carolina, has reported significant improvements after a year-long partnership with StationMD’s 24/7, I/DD-specialized telemedicine service. This collaboration has led to an 88-percent reduction in ER visits and a $40,000 decrease in health-related operational costs.
People with I/DD often face barriers to receiving timely medical attention, such as mobility issues, lack of transportation, caregiver availability, and communication challenges. To address these issues, GCBDSN partnered with StationMD, a telehealth company specializing in the care of individuals with I/DD. Through this service, individuals with I/DD and their caregivers can access an I/DD-specialized clinician 24/7 via telemedicine for medical concerns.
Over a one-year period, StationMD resolved 95 percent of incidents that traditionally would have resulted in a trip to the ER or urgent care clinic, based on chief complaint alone. The reduction in unscheduled hospital visits has minimized disruptions to daily activities, medication schedules, meals, work, and sleep for those supported by GCBDSN, and also reduced operational costs.
Michaela Moss, a recipient of GCBDSN services, praised the convenience of StationMD saying, “I love using StationMD because I can see a doctor on my iPhone. I don’t have to sit in the ER for hours.”
Eileen Kaczor, a nurse for GCBDSN highlighted the efficiency of the process: “You just call the number, and within moments you’re face-to-face with a doctor who can enter their assessment and outcomes directly into our electronic health record, manage prescriptions, order labs, and most importantly help us avoid sending someone to the ER for something minor.”
Elizabeth Krauss from GCBDSN noted the broader impact, saying, “When one person requires medical attention, it throws a wrench in the day for other individuals and leaves us scrambling to find other care staff and expensive specialty transportation to get to the doctor. StationMD relieves us of these burdens and costs, and those we support are happier for it.”
Dr. Maulik Trivedi, co-founding physician at StationMD emphasized the effectiveness of the service: “We know that more than 90 percent of calls we receive are for concerns that can be addressed by our specialized telehealth solution. For individuals who struggle with getting access to quality medical care or rely on others for support and/or have transportation issues, the benefits of this service are more pronounced.”
StationMD clinicians have conducted over 100,000 telemedicine visits with individuals with I/DD nationwide. Available 24/7, the service addresses a wide range of medical issues, from fever and vomiting to seasonal illnesses, seizures, rashes, falls, and prescription refills.
By incorporating StationMD training into the onboarding process for all newly hired direct support professionals, GCBDSN anticipates a 10-percent increase in utilization of the service in the coming year, further freeing up funds to enhance the quality of life for those they support.
About Georgetown County Board of Disabilities & Special Needs
GCBDSN is a medium-sized residential, day service, and employment provider for persons with I/DD or related disabilities on the Coast of South Carolina. GCBDSN offers case management services and is licensed to provide Medicaid Waiver and other State Plan services.
About StationMD
StationMD is a telehealth company dedicated to serving individuals with I/DD. All StationMD clinicians are board-certified and specially trained to treat individuals with I/DD. Clinicians are available 24/7 via telemedicine for urgent and non-urgent medical matters. StationMD also offers scheduled psychiatry via telemedicine to individuals with I/DD. In providing this suite of services, StationMD enables individuals with I/DD faster access to high-quality care and substantially reduces unnecessary medical costs. Learn more at www.StationMD.com and follow along via X (@StationMD) and on Facebook and LinkedIn (StationMD).
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