Bridging the gap: better healthcare for rural America

Mike Lemnitzer, Vice President of State Government Healthcare at Philips, is intimately familiar with these scenarios. He sees firsthand the unique challenges facing rural healthcare providers and the financial tightrope they walk just to keep their doors open. “When you take those [health system] rates that are negotiated at a discount and apply those to the rural communities that already have a low volume of patients, you have a double-edged sword,” Mike explains. “Now [the facilities] are penalized with low rates and low volume.”

In response to these difficult circumstances, Mike and his team at Philips are working with health systems to pioneer new ways to bring quality care to rural areas using innovative technology. A standout example is the mobile CT lung screening program in places like New York State with local healthcare and community partners, aimed at reducing lung cancer fatalities through early detection.

Considering that upwards of 36% of New York State residents must travel more than an hour to access a CT scanner, this mobile solution is a game changer. It brings vital screenings out of hospitals and directly into the neighborhoods where patients live.

Mike is passionate about expanding this life-saving service across the country. “I want a mobile CT in every state within the next four years… and we’re adding six [more] this year,” he says. He and his team are working diligently with state governments to make mobile CT scans a common and accessible part of the healthcare landscape nationwide.

Effective virtual care is another cornerstone of the plan to expand healthcare access. Philips has successfully launched key programs in several states that use remote, virtual or mobile technology to provide patients with advanced care.

Introducing new remote care technologies often involves a learning curve for providers, technicians and patients. Philips understands that proper training is critical to ensure that the best level of care is administered and received. The company has implemented extensive training programs so that everyone understands their role in the process.

For instance, an affiliated maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist in New Mexico is trained to perform nearly half of all maternal scans in the state, with a third of their patients being remote. The physician receives rigorous initial and ongoing training from Philips to maximize the benefits of the technology and guide the patient through the process smoothly. Patients using remote tools also receive support, with access to nurses and coaches who make sure they’re correctly using monitoring devices.

With so much data being shared between devices and providers, patient privacy is paramount. Mike is proud of how Philips designs its systems with this core principle in mind. “Our products are designed for ‘privacy first.’ The patient’s safety and privacy are always built-in,” he states. “It’s in our blood [at Philips] to be sure that we have that covered.”

Mike and the team at Philips are constantly exploring new ways to improve care for patients in rural areas, using advanced technology to close the proximity gap.

He envisions a connected ecosystem where states and universities collaborate with providers to integrate virtual and mobile care options with local hospitals. This includes training physicians in rural communities to provide exceptional in-person care. Mike also hopes health systems will move toward greater pay parity, which could help save the approximately 700 rural hospitals nationwide at risk of closing due to financial struggles.

Ultimately, Mike is optimistic. He believes that by building on the progress already made in rural communities, the future of high-quality, accessible rural healthcare can be achieved through strong partnerships and advanced technology.

“One of our missions at Philips is to develop technology for rural communities that is virtual in nature and delivers for the community, the provider and the family,” he says. “We see the impact of what's going on, and we must understand what rural healthcare will look like in 10 years. We spend time with the people that live and deliver care in these communities, asking them for ideas. And we can effectively demonstrate some of their ideas with proven solutions.”