Telemedicine services now available at Veterans Memorial Hospital


VMH now offers telemedicine services ... Veterans Memorial Hospital has now begun offering telemedicine services thanks to the help of Gundersen Healthcare in La Crosse, WI. Now emergency stroke and critical neonate patients will benefit from these new telemedicine services right in the local Emergency Room. Pictured above, left to right, are a few Emergency Nurses who underwent training with Gundersen telemedicine specialists February 12, including Brianne Leikvold, RN; Geralyn Smith, RN and Trish Shelton, RN. This technology is readily available on a video cart, pictured above, that can be brought right to the patient’s bedside where the Gundersen specialist can see the patient and perform an assessment when requested by the Emergency provider. Submitted photo.

Veterans Memorial Hospital has now begun offering telemedicine services thanks to the help of Gundersen Healthcare in La Crosse, WI.  Now emergency stroke and neonate patients will benefit from these new telemedicine services right in the local Emergency Room.

Gundersen specialists traveled to Waukon February 12 to install the live interactive video technology and train staff on its use.  Now all Veterans Memorial Hospital providers and staff can connect with specialists through this high-tech system whenever needed in the case of a stroke or critical infant.  Specialists at Gundersen will provide needed support and clinical care from a distance in the first crucial minutes.

“This new technology will greatly benefit our patients by helping our ER providers with rapid interpretation of the patient’s condition, assisting with making life safe decisions, which will mean an even better outcome for our patients,” states Diane Butikofer, RN, Emergency Supervisor at Veterans Memorial Hospital. “This really shows how important it is to always go to your closest emergency facility whenever an emergency arises. Those first few seconds really do count.”

This technology is readily available on a video cart that can be brought right to the patient’s bedside where the Gundersen specialist can see the patient and perform an assessment when requested by the Emergency provider.

“The technology that has been provided to VMH by Gundersen enhances the care and treatment of our patients.  It will allow us to work with a specialist in real time prior to transporting the patient to Gundersen,” states Mike Myers, CEO. “The difference between the diagnosis being made here at VMH along with treatment being initiated can make a big difference to the patient. Thank you Gundersen for being such a good partner in patient care!”