Managing patients with diabetes in rural underserved areas

Abstract

Managing patients with diabetes in rural underserved areas Professor Richard J. Santen, MD from the University of Virginia, explains the need for retired endocrinologists returning to work to manage patients with diabetes in America’s rural underserved areas. Patients with diabetes living in rural, underserved areas frequently experience less than adequate health outcomes, often exacerbated by higher rates of poverty, lack of health insurance and insufficient primary care and specialist providers. While this is a shocking situation, it is also an opportunity. Many retired doctors are eager to offer their services and are looking for ways to reach out and help. Herein lies an opportunity to connect retired endocrinologists via telemedicine with patients attending these rural community health centers, Professor Santen says. He argues that the solution is telemedicine – for example, a doctor in Alabama would not have to leave home to help a person in an underserved rural community hundreds of miles away. Detailed reports of the findings and recommendations can take time, but, various digital dictation software programs are available, which are highly accurate and secure. Dr Santen comments that he knows of many specialists who have built highly successful careers and can now retire and enjoy the financial benefits of their hard work