New Phoebe system helps Vets

ALBANY, GA - Phoebe Putney hospital announced a new research project Wednesday to help Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan get therapy more conveniently. They are using technology to help veterans battle the emotional wounds of combat.

The hospital says they are trying to better serve veterans with post traumatic stress disorder, allowing veterans to go to a local clinic and talk with their doctor, via teleconference.

The goal of the study is to see if these conversations via a remote connection are as effective as face to face conversations that a veteran has with his or her doctor. The camera lets physicians see the body language of the patient.

Congressman Sanford Bishop said, "We owe them. And we have a tremendous obligation to make sure that when they return that we are there for them to help them through whatever injuries they may have incurred."

"We want to try to show that therapy delivered via tele-medicine is at least as effective as the standard therapy provided face to face. And if that's the case, we can also demonstrate that if it's at least as effective, at least tele-medicine therapy is more convenient," said Steve Ziemba Director of Clinical Research.

A veteran who served a year in Afghanistan says he sees the benefits.

Brian Baker Marine Corporal: "you're still getting face to face even though it's through a screen. It's just like teleconference for business kinds of things. It serves the same purpose. You're not getting to actually see the person talking live like me and you talking right now, but it's still almost equal, maybe just a little bit diminished."

The connection is over a secure cable network and meets all HIPPA guidelines. The technology does not stop the appointments from being entirely confidential. The furthest that Phoebe Putney will connect with clinics is Ashburn.

https://www.walb.com/story/16000025/new-phoebe-system-help-vets