Under the Microscope: Telemedicine Care in Texas Prisons

Over time, Bourdeau says the telemedicine program will continue to improve, especially when it comes to efficiency of care. Even with the EMR in place, he says there are still gaps when it comes to scheduling and ordering and receiving lab tests. Adding to this challenge is that the limitations of prison have made newer technologies, such as mobile monitoring and alerts, unavailable for use. However, he says that should eventually change too.

Naturally, there are skeptics, those who contend that telemedicine cannot effectively care for a patient. To those people, Bourdeau and others could just point to the results of the Texas prison program and let that speak for itself. They could talk of other large states, California and Arizona, which have also found (albeit smaller) successes in similar programs. Yet to those doubters, including some on the Texas Medical Board, Bourdeau says what they should know is that this technology is necessary.

"The reality is the shortage of providers is making it essential. It's another piece of the healthcare service toolset that this country and the world are starting to use to supplement care in larger populations, rural populations, with an insufficient number of practitioners that can't see all these patients," Bourdeau says.

In Texas, where people like to intone and brag about its overall size, telemedicine has been successful in shrinking down the state and improving care.