With more than 328,000+ patient visits and 300+ clinical trials yearly, Moffitt Cancer Center is one of the busiest cancer centers and institutional leaders in national cancer research.  The center delivers all levels of care for people with cancer and related diseases, as well as screening and prevention services.

At this week's Cisco Live global conference, John Maass, Manager of Moffitt's Conferencing Technology Systems and Support, participated in an exceptional discussion alongside representatives from Orlando Health and Children's Hospital Central California. Together, this powerhouse panel conversed about how the healthcare industry is poised to taking advantage of the Internet of Everything bridging together people, process, data, and things to make connectivity more relevant and valuable than ever before.

In the medical field, time and access to information is everything.  During the panel discussion, John underscored this from both the physician and patient perspective at Moffitt:

• Physicians want access to information and our IT department want to avoid any security threats or breaches, particularly with confidential medical information that Moffitt has turned to VDI to appease both parties.  From the start of their day, physicians are able to access confidential schedules and patient information from preferred mobile devices as they prepare for their shift. This allows them to seamlessly move into patient rooms and pull up the necessary files real-time with a patient.  The physician is also able to securely transfer the content on the mobile device directly to the nurse that takes over to give the patient their daily medicine and monitor vital signs.
• Video on demand has also made the patient experience easier at Moffitt. For example, when a radiation patient comes in for surgery, they can access the patient portal and watch various videos explaining exactly what will happen before they arrive to the center, from the moment they park their car and walk through the building (including guided directions), to the types of paperwork and conversations that will take place before the procedure. This access to information helps put the patient at ease and remove any logistical stress so they can focus on getting healthy.

John also touched on Moffitt's video collaboration strategy and how the combined use of education and telemedicine help to connect patients with family virtually, while also provided other value adds such as translation services. Thanks in part to Cisco TelePresence technology, specialists at Moffitt can connect with remote patients for increased care and better diagnosis, saving patients travel time back and forth to the Cancer Center.

During the June 26 press event, John commented that a large percentage of today's patient caregiving takes place outside of the institutional care environment. The ability for caregivers to monitor individuals stats regularly, email or add to patient files instantly from the place patients choose to receive care is transforming how healthcare is delivered. He noted that video will be a big part of this continued transformation, empowering proper healthcare practices necessary in today's global world.

What do you think of the future of telemedicine? Has telehealth empowered you to be more informed and receive assistance at the location of your choice?