Holographic doctor visits enhance cancer care in rural communities
The West Cancer Center introduced this cutting-edge technology to address barriers in accessing oncology care.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Innovative technology is revolutionizing cancer treatment for patients in rural Tennessee, including Henry County.
Holographic doctor visits, powered by the Proto Hologram system, are now connecting cancer specialists based in Memphis to patients in smaller communities like Paris, Tennessee. This is significantly reducing the need for long trips to major cities.
The West Cancer Center introduced this cutting-edge technology to address barriers in accessing oncology care.
“Our CEO, Mitch Graves, is who started kind of looking into what these possibilities were, and it all kind of started from a cliche talk of just, we said, ‘Gosh, it’d be so nice if we could beam the specialist to them, right?’ And so he’s the one that actually found this technology. It just had not been used in the medical application before,” said Dr. Sylvia Richey, West Cancer Center Chief Medical Officer.
“In oncology, communication, nonverbal communication, is really important, because oftentimes we’re talking about very serious conditions, consequences, end-of-life talks. And so, having that body language is really important in that conversation. We wanted to be able to bring a greater technology,” Dr. Richey explained.
This addresses a challenge faced by patients in rural communities, who previously had to drive hours to cities like Memphis or Nashville. Now, these patients can get that medical care closer to home.
The West Cancer Center is expanding to other areas, including Corinth, Mississippi. The goal is to make this technology more widely available.
Copyright 2024 WSMV. All rights reserved.
