Maine Leads Nation in Provision of Telemedicine Services
Maine has become the nation's largest provider of telemedicine services, according to officials attending a state telemedicine conference this week, the Bangor Daily News reports. Currently, Maine has nearly 200 remote care sites and adds an additional two to four sites every month, Dr. Arvind Patel, medical director of Lubec-based Maine Telemedicine Services, said. Telemedicine services are available for many specialties, ranging from genetic counseling to psychiatry -- the most widely used service. Maine also uses telemedicine to provide health care to prisons and nearby islands. Maine could use its position as the leader in telemedicine to attract grants and expand the services it offers, conference attendees said. The state is developing remote care applications for cardiology, dermatology and other specialties, the Daily News reports (Robicheau, Bangor Daily News, 11/21).
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