Akdar Shriners' telemedicine project

Tulsans got the chance Monday, to see a doctor in another city without even having to leave town. <br/><br/>It's called Telemedicine. And Tulsa's Akdar Shriners are using it to get kids in Tulsa

Monday, August 23rd 2004, 2:16 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsans got the chance Monday, to see a doctor in another city without even having to leave town.

It's called Telemedicine. And Tulsa's Akdar Shriners are using it to get kids in Tulsa expert medical care from all over the world.

It works like a videoconference. Doctors use video cameras and microphones to do detailed checkups, just like they could if they were in the same room with the patient. It saves money and means no missed school for the kids or missed work for their parents.

Patient Jake Shell: "I like it a lot, don't have to spend seven or eight hours in the car." Jakeâ€™s mom, Cassie Shell: â€œit is great - he doesn't have school work to make up or missed days at school and no work's lost."

Telemedicine will free up $80,000 a year that the Shriners would've spent on travel, to now help even more kids.