KEYSTONE, Colo. - Imagínese estar en una escena de “Star Trek” (Viaje a las Estrellas). Se siente mal y, en vez de ir con el doctor, se sienta ante su computadora y discute sus síntomas con su proveedor médico. Pues ya no es ciencia ficción, sino una realidad para las comunidades de Colorado.

El acceso a una atención médica especializada ha sido siempre un reto en todo el estado, debido a la geografía y las escasas comunidades en algunas partes de Colorado. Pero eso está cambiando debido a los avances en banda ancha y redes seguras en línea, que llevan a los coloradeños “a donde nadie había estado jamás” – como explica Vivek Wadhwa, un becario de la Universidad de Stanford especializado en nuevas tecnologías.
 
“La tecnología nos está llevando al futuro de Viaje a las Estrellas que soñamos cuando éramos niños. Todos esos aparatos mágicos que vimos en la televisión, todas esas cosas asombrosas se están volviendo realidad.”

La Telesalud (Telehealth), el uso de las telecomunicaciones para ofrecer atención clínica a distancia y otros temas del Siglo 21 se discuten en Keystone desde este miércoles hasta el viernes en el Colorado Health Symposium (Simposio de la Salud de Colorado). Se invita a los coloradeños a participar desde su computadora visitando el sitio Web del Colorado Health Symposium, en www.coloradohealth.org.

La Colorado Telehealth Network (Red de Telesalud de Colorado), ha trabajado durante seis años creando redes seguras para que las instalaciones médicas del estado compartan imágenes e información entre sí, dando a los pacientes el poder de usar tecnología adecuada para aprovechar los servicios de la tele-salud.

Explica Ed Bostic, director ejecutivo de la CTN:

“Estos pacientes necesitan banda ancha en su comunidad, y no sólo usamos la banda ancha para la parte de telehealth, sino que también trabajamos con varias agencias para tratar de ampliar la banda ancha en todo Colorado y, obviamente, a donde debe llegar es a las comunidades rurales.”

La Colorado Telehealth Network ha sido reconocida como la red que marca el rumbo a nivel nacional en desarrollo de tecnología médica a larga distancia. Wadhwa afirma que eso se debe a que los ciudadanos del estado tienen mucho que ganar.
 
“Colorado se beneficiará enormemente y la gente que no vive en las ciudades puede quedar fuera del paisaje tecnológico, pero con estos avances cualquiera, donde sea, tendrá acceso al mismo conocimiento y las mismas herramientas.”

La Colorado Telehealth Network brinda servicios en todos los condados salvo en tres, y en al menos 200 instalaciones médicas.

Información completa sobre el Colorado Health Symposium en www.coloradohealth.org.


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After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation.

Naloxone is sometimes called the "Lazarus drug" because of its powerful ability to seemingly resurrect people after a drug overdose.

Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and some of his colleagues have introduced a bill which would open the door for what they say are more costly, but more powerful, antidotes.

"Given the prevalence of fentanyl in our communities, and how much stronger some of these drugs that we're now seeing are, we believe -- and in talking with others -- that there should be other tools to respond to an overdose," Hertel explained. "To make sure we're doing everything we can to save somebody's life."

Not everyone is on board with the proposed legislation, Senate Bill 542. Opponents argued the more expensive naloxone alternatives are not necessary, and using them would only increase profits for the pharmaceutical industry.

Jonathan Stoltman, director of the Opioid Policy Institute in Grand Rapids, said while the naloxone alternatives do help in overdose situations, they can also cause nasty side effects.

"The newer approaches, they put people into more severe withdrawal," Stoltman pointed out. "That's a pretty profound negative side effect. The one approach is very inexpensive and works great; the other approach is far more expensive and has this strong negative side effect."

Sponsors of the bill say they're hoping to give Michigan residents a chance to chime in on the issue in a public hearing sometime in June. Michigan saw more than 3,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.


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New Mexico saw record enrollment numbers for the Affordable Care Act this year and is now setting its sights on lowering out-of-pocket costs - those not reimbursed by insurance. More than 56,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in a medical health insurance plan on the state exchange - an increase of 12,000 people overall.

Colin Baillio, deputy superintendent with the state's Office of Insurance, said the state has boosted its outreach and made efforts to improve the overall consumer experience.

"We saw a 40% year-over-year increase, and New Mexico saw the biggest percentage increase during the open-enrollment period among all of the state-based marketplaces," he explained

Part of the enrollment increase is due to what's called the "unwinding" - a federal directive that required all states to redetermine Medicaid eligibility following a three-year pause on checks during the COVID pandemic. He said by using expanded tools made available by the federal and state government, 8% of New Mexico's population is now uninsured - down from 23% in 2010.

Following approval by lawmakers in the 2024 legislative session, the New Mexico governor signed seven health care-related bills into law - one of which requires annual reporting of prescription drug pricing. Baililo said the Affordable Care Act built the foundation that has allowed the state to pursue additional affordability initiatives.

"I'm really glad to see that there's so much interest in the next step of health reform, really leaning into these out-of-pocket cost issues and making it easier for people to afford to stay covered and see their doctors," he continued.

Two years ago, the state also passed a one-of-a-kind law that did away with behavioral health co-pays for people in certain insurance plans.

New York's medical aid-in-dying bill is gaining further support. The Medical Society of the State of New York is supporting the bill. New York's bill allows terminally ill people with only six months to live to use this option, with safeguards requiring two physicians' approval.

The bill's Assembly sponsor Amy Paulin, D-Westchester, said despite the growing support, other hurdles lie ahead.

"Now we have what I believe, if it came to the floor, a majority. There's still a hesitation on the part of leadership. You know, we need members to assure leadership that they no longer have reservations," she said.

Other newly resolved concerns center on making sure insurance companies and doctors who don't support this aren't held liable. She's optimistic the bill will pass after nine years in the Legislature. New York would be the 11th state along with Washington, D.C. to have medical aid in dying legislation.

Corinne Carey, senior New York campaign director with Compassion and Choices finds the pandemic drew a vivid picture of a person's end-of-life experience. There were images of people dying on ventilators, apart from loved ones, and unable to communicate. She said people began thinking about a "good death."

"And, what is a good death is being surrounded by loved ones, having some measure of control, experiencing the touch of your loved ones, and being the one in the driver's seat," she explained.

Now people have different options for end-of-life care, each of which presents various challenges. Polls show medical aid in dying has garnered considerable support since being introduced in 2015. A 2022 Compassion and Choices poll finds 57% of nurses support medical aid in dying professionally, although fewer support it personally.