Telemedicine helps Nashville-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center take its kidney transplant program to the people of Tennessee and give them the prospect to be screened for a transplant and bring constant care within their reach.

The Vanderbilt Transplant Center newly started its first telemedicine clinic in Jackson, two hours away from Tennessee. Specialists will be able to assess candidates who possibly need kidney transplants and organize check-ups every month in this clinic.

In a press release issued by Vanderbilt, James Ross, President and CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare, said, “We appreciate Vanderbilt bringing much-needed telemedicine services to our patients who have been referred for kidney transplants. This type of care delivery enhances access to sub-specialty care in our region and supports our mission of improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”

Health system officials at Vanderbilt estimate evaluations of at least four patients every month through this telemedicine programme. They clarified that the platform does not intend to substitute all personal appointments; patients can choose to travel to Vanderbilt if they want.

Rachel Forbes, MD, an assistant professor of surgery and surgical director of the living donor transplant program at Vanderbilt, said in the Vanderbilt release, “We will see patients who have been referred to us for kidney transplant in an effort to save them at least one trip to Vanderbilt. We are hoping this will be a valuable tool for those patients who have a distance to travel.”

 “We will have documents from their referring physician and information provided during the intake process. We can get a thorough history and a very good sense of any issues and determine further testing that will be required for evaluation.”