Telehealth Consultations for Patients with Spinal Disorders
Consultative services will focus on spinal disorders
Dr. Daniel K. O'Rourke,
St. Luke's Neurosurgical
Associates
Coaldale and Bethlehem, PA (11/17/2009) – Last week, Daniel K. O'Rourke, MD, FACS, managing partner, St. Luke's Neurosurgical Associates, began providing spinal disorder consultative services through telehealth, in collaboration with St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital.
In March 2009, St. Luke's introduced telehealth services, which utilize technology to connect patients with medical specialists, for endocrinology patients. Due to the success of the endocrinology telehealth program and the need to bring neurosurgical care and consultation to the people and physicians of the Coaldale region, Dr. O'Rourke will begin patient consultations on November 11.
This initiative will continue to serve a region that lacks physicians in medical specialties. And, while telehealth is not necessarily a new way to practice medicine, the technology offers the opportunity to provide specialized medical care to an underserved patient base.
"Telehealth utilizes a telecommunication system that connects me with my patients," says O'Rourke. "While I am in my office in Bethlehem, our nurse practitioner, Regina Wartonick, will be in the Coaldale office to be my eyes and hands with the patient. The technology will allow me to review tests and scans with the patient, just as I would if they were sitting in my office. But this way, they are able to stay close to home for the appointment with the benefit of seeing a specialist."
Dr. O'Rourke earned his medical degree from The Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a fellowship at National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. O'Rourke is a diplomat of the American Board of Neurosurgeons and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has a special interest in minimally invasive surgical approaches to the spine, complex intracranial surgery and vascular neurosurgery.
Dr. O'Rourke will focus on spinal disorders, specifically cervical and lumbar issues. Spinal Disorders include:
- Lumbar disc surgery – minimally invasive techniques disturbing the natural anatomy as little as possible
- Cervical disc surgery – all techniques from the front and back including fusion and plating
- Cervical and lumbar decompressions for spinal cord and nerve compression
- Carpel tunnel surgery
- Spinal fusion and instrumentation (cervical, thoracic and lumbar)
- Lumbar disc replacement in carefully selected patients
- Injecting plastic into the spine with the Kyphoplasty® system (to restore normal height to a fractured vertebra)
Regina Wartonick received her nursing degree from Hazleton State General Hospital in Hazleton, PA. She earned her BSN from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and her MSN in Family Medicine from George Mason University, in conjunction with George Washington University School of Medicine. Regina has experience in diagnosing and treating neurological diseases.
"The video equipment being used for telehealth was obtained by the hospital through a generous donation by Tamaqua physician Craig Krause, DO, who donated the funds in memory of his late wife Barbara," explains Bill Crossin, President, St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital. "I'm pleased that we are utilizing the equipment to connect our patients with top-notch specialists throughout the Network."
Currently, the neurosurgery telehealth hours are on the second Tuesday of every month from 9 am to 11 am. As the need arises, hours will expand to accommodate patients, says Dr. O'Rourke. The practice is currently scheduling patients with a referral from primary care physicians. To schedule an appointment at the office or at St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, patients should call 610-954-4000 Monday through Friday.
