To the editor:

I was very happy to read in the Great Bend Tribune: “Heart of Kansas expands telemedicine to combat Covid-19” (April 15 issue). Of course, the relatively new video approaches involving conference calls and “virtual meetings” such as Zoom may be common to some businesspeople, yet they are relatively new in the field of general medicine. I know that they are being employed due to the high transmission rates of the new coronavirus known as COVID-19 and I applaud their use. 

For the most part, it is efficient, expedient, saves both the doctor and patient time and money and best of all, it can save a patient having to commute several hours just to get answers within minutes (in some cases). I only wish that this was around 20 years ago, when I was still driving my late mother almost an even 200 miles from our home in Esbon to her doctor in Derby (a Wichita suburb). Had today’s technology existed back then, it would have saved us all time and money. Although a few things still have to be done face to face (such as laboratory blood and urine samples, and perhaps x-rays), this new technology may help keep rural Kansans alive longer, who otherwise might not have sought (or received) help from a medical doctor.  

I applaud the technology and hope it expands into other areas of medicine. And, my prayers continue for all those people impacted directly or indirectly by COVID-19. Hopefully the finger-pointing will cease, and we can learn lifesaving tips from this current pandemic.

James A. Marples

Esbon