Episode 16: Running Codes Over a Screen | How Telemedicine Is Saving Rural America

In this episode of Out of Network, Dr. Ryon Parker and Dr. Rishi Seth explore the world of telemedicine and reveal how it's revolutionizing healthcare access in rural America. Dr. Seth shares his firsthand experience as a telehealth hospitalist—running emergency codes from hundreds of miles away, managing critical patients over a screen, and keeping small-town hospitals alive. From a patient with "3 out of 10" chest pain who turned out to have a life-threatening heart attack, to the technology and expertise required to provide remote care, this conversation uncovers the hidden infrastructure that's changing medicine as we know it.

What You'll Learn

• How telehealth hospitalists manage critical emergencies remotely—including running codes over a screen
• The reality of rural hospitals where there may be no doctor on-site at all
• The dramatic story of catching a full-blown STEMI (heart attack) from 100 miles away
• Why telemedicine requires 5+ years of clinical experience before going remote
• The technology behind telehealth carts and remote patient monitoring
• How small-town hospitals stay open thanks to telehealth coverage
• State licensing requirements and the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
• Best practices for using telemedicine in outpatient and concierge settings
• The future of AI integration in telehealth

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: What if there's no doctor in the building?
01:00 – Dr. Seth's journey into telehealth hospitalist work
02:30 – What are critical access hospitals and why do they matter?
04:00 – The technology: Telehealth carts, stethoscopes, and zoom capabilities
07:00 – Why rural hospitals are the lifeblood of small-town America
08:00 – The gray patient: Catching a life-threatening STEMI remotely
10:30 – Why experience matters more than technology in telehealth
14:00 – The business model keeping rural hospitals financially viable
18:00 – State licensing requirements and legal considerations
21:00 – How Dr. Parker uses telemedicine in his concierge practice
24:00 – Documentation requirements and billing for telehealth visits
26:00 – The future of telehealth and AI integration
28:00 – Final thoughts: Why telemedicine is revolutionary for rural America

Connect with Out of Network
Website: https://www.outofnetworkpod.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outofnetworkpodcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OutofNetworkPodcast
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@outofnetworkpodcast

Connect with the Hosts
Parker Medical - Las Vegas, NV → https://bit.ly/parkermedical
Dr. Ryon Parker → https://www.instagram.com/dr.ryonparker/
Seth Premiere Medical - Tampa, FL → https://bit.ly/sethpremiere
Dr. Rishi Seth → https://www.instagram.com/drrishiseth/

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