Through the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the ANGELS program at the Great River Medical Center in Blytheville is offering patients a way to talk to doctors in Little Rock one-on-one without traveling to Little Rock.

Sherry Stegall, nurse manager at the Women's Center at the local hospital, explained that ANGELS stands for Antenatal and Neonatal Guidelines, Education and Learning System and is a program that UAMS offers to different hospitals across the state.

Last year we got the equipment to do level two ultrasound," Stegall said. "We do that on the second and fourth Friday of every month. "Now they have called and said can we do this. What it is is a diabetic clinic for women who are pregnant."

Stegall said the diabetic clinics are offered every Wednesday and between 11 a.m. and noon, with about four 15-minute appointments available.

"It is through Dr. Nafisa Dajani of UAMS," Stegall said. "Patients can get into the program by their physicians calling the ANGELS program. Instead of those patients going to Little Rock every week because their diabetes is uncontrolled or to see what their blood sugar is, they just come here."

Stegall said using the ANGELS equipment, which is provided by UAMS, the patient is able to sit and talk one-on-one with Dajani. The ANGELS equipment is set up on a portable cart and includes two television monitors, a camera, sound equipment, a portable level two ultrasound machine and other equipment.

On one monitor will be Dajani and on the other will be the patient. The doctor can see the patient and the patient can see the doctor. The Tandburg audio equipment gives patients the opportunity to talk to a doctor in Little Rock in real time without leaving Blytheville. "We fax them (the doctor) the patient's blood sugar log, and the doctor comes on the television, the patient is there and they just talk back and forth," Stegall said. "They talk back and forth about what the patient is eating, the doctor will help the patient with their diet, adjust their insulin if needed, and the patient can ask the doctor questions."

Stegall said any physician, not just those affiliated with Great River Medical Center, can refer a patient to the ANGELS diabetic clinic by calling (866) 273-3835.

"That is a 24-hour consultation line for family practitioners and obstetricians," Stegall said.

Stegall explained that the ANGELS program is provided by UAMS under the umbrella of the Rural Hospital Program. Also provided at the hospital by UAMS under the program is Telemedicine. Telemedicine offers public health programs to the community as well as educational programs specifically for doctors, nurses and other hospital staff members. The Telemedicine programs are also in real time so participants can ask questions and interact with the speaker and other participants.

"The programs are free to the public and will be held in the private dining room, the classroom side, at the hospital," Stegall said. Upcoming programs that are open to the public include: "Recovery Room for Parents Who Have Experienced Neonatal Death," offered from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 2; "Will Your Child Succeed in School?" offered 
from 6 to 7 p.m. May 9; "Alzheimer's Disease Support Group," offered from 5:30 to 7 p.m. May 18; and "Colorectal Cancer, offered from 6 to 7 p.m. May 25.

 

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