Babies born at Fauquier Hospital can now quickly receive advanced, one-on-one evaluation and care from specialists at University of Virginia Health System(UVA) through a new telemedicine partnership.
The innovative program was celebrated on
Wednesday, November 13, at 2 p.m. The ceremony will be held simultaneously at
Fauquier Hospital’s Family Birthing Center and UVA’s Center for Telehealth, and
connected via the new telemedicine technology. Speakers included: Neonatologist
Robert Sinkin, MD, MPH, lead neonatologist in the UVA - Fauquier NICU
Telemedicine Program; Linda Sharkey, RN, Fauquier Hospital’s vice president for
Patient Care Services, Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel; Karen Rheuban, MD, director
of the UVA Center of Telehealth, medical director of the Office of
Telemedicine, and associate dean for Continuing Medical Education; and James
Nataro, MD, PhD, MBA, chairman of the UVA Department of Pediatrics.
Supported by UVA’s Center for Telehealth, the first neonatal telemedicine
program in Virginia provides secure video, audio and data links between
Fauquier Hospital’s Family Birthing Center and UVA’s Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit (NICU). With the telemedicine program, Fauquier Hospital newborns and
clinicians now have around-the-clock access to board-certified UVA
neonatologists who specialize in caring for very small or ill infants.
“For infants born at Fauquier Hospital who need advanced care, this
partnership will ensure they are evaluated and treated as soon as possible,”
said Linda Sharkey, Fauquier Health’s vice president for patient care.
The telemedicine program will also help UVA neonatologists more quickly
determine which infants need to be transferred to UVA’s 45-bed NICU and which
newborns can be cared for at Fauquier.
“We know how important it is for parents and newborns to remain close to
home whenever possible,” said Robert Sinkin, M.D., division head of neonatology
at UVA. “This will help newborns and their families in the Warrenton area get
as much of their care as possible near home while providing them with easy
access to the specialized care we provide at UVA.”
Fauquier Hospital joins UVA Center for Telehealth’s network of more than
85 telemedicine sites across Virginia that help thousands of Virginians access
specialty care not available in their home communities. “We’re pleased to help
expand access to neonatology care in the Warrenton area,” said Karen Rheuban,
MD, director of the UVA Center for Telehealth.