Telemedicine’s woes

High Plains Rural Health Network fights for life

Three months ago, Alan Blumenkamp traveled from his home in Sydney, Neb., to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins for surgery to repair a torn ligament in his wrist and alleviate a painful case of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Dr. Lee Gordon, a hand and microsurgeon, did the work, and Blumenkamp returned home.

He has had several follow-up visits since then, but rather than make the six-hour round trip to see Dr. Gordon in person, Blumenkamp, an employee of Sydney’s Memorial Health Center, sees his doctor via televideo.

Dr. Gordon can analyze information provided by…