Telapheresis: One institution's experience

Telemedicine in its most common form is the use of videoconferencing to consult with a patient and telapheresis is telemedicine in the form of videotelephony applied to consult with a patient for apheresis. The article discusses how a large apheresis program in a metropolitan area provided physician coverage for apheresis in a more remote hospital using telapheresis with local physician “partners” and local nurses employed by and trained by the apheresis program that perform the procedure. Consent for the procedure was obtained, and orders were placed by the local physician after consultation with the apheresis physician, or the apheresis physician him/herself, having obtained privileges at the remote hospital. This allowed patients access to apheresis procedures nearer to their place of residence and in familiar surroundings which generally made them feel more positive about their health care experience.