August 20, 2012 Telehealth Vendor Exhibition Fair to Showcase Innovations in Health Technology

BATON ROUGE, Aug 20, 2012 - The Louisiana Department of Health will hold a Telehealth Vendor Exhibition Fair from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Wednesday, August 22, in the Bienville Building, 628 North 4th Street, Baton Rouge, in conference room 118. This event is open to the public. There is no cost to attend, and participants do not need to register in advance.

"Telehealth" refers to any telecommunications technology specifically applied to advance health care. Some examples are two physicians from opposite sides of the world consulting with each other on a case using enhanced teleconference capabilities, or increased Internet connectivity that allows medical images to be uploaded in real time for immediate examination.

"Telehealth is breaking down old barriers, changing how we think about, deliver and pay for health care, and we're excited to explore how we can use cutting-edge resources to ensure improved health outcomes for Louisiana residents," said LDH Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein.

More than a dozen telehealth vendors will have booths and displays at the exhibition, featuring their latest products and services. Vendors include national technology companies Cisco Systems, Inc., AT&T and Polycom, as well as Louisiana-based telehealth businesses such as Constant Care, L.L.C. and TeleMD 360.

The LDH Center for Health Care Innovation and Technology is organizing this exhibit in keeping with a resolution from the 2012 Legislative Session by Rep. Scott M. Simon, chair of the House Health and Welfare Committee, which directed LDH to study how to advance telehealth technology in Louisiana.

"Health care is a vital industry in our state, and it's important for our providers and health policymakers to stay up to date on the latest technology that advances the field," said Rep. Scott M. Simon, chair of the House Health and Welfare Committee. "I authored this resolution to enable more activities like this, which give our providers and state health officials the opportunity to meet with those on the forefront and discover how these new innovations can benefit Louisiana."

While this exhibition is open to anyone who wishes to attend, the presentations will be especially relevant for health care providers, administrators and facilities operators.