Telemedicine has 39 for a long time, but the rise of smartphones, tablet PCs and camera-equipped computers is 40 telemedicine to new levels. Some health care systems in the United States now 41 Virtual(虚拟的) Urgent Care. Patients see a doctor by video chat without having to leave home.
Diana Rae, a nurse educator in the Franciscan Health System recently 42 how Virtual Urgent Care works. She used an iPad tablet and skype—the video chat service.
Doctor Green has the patient describe her 43 ; then the doctor performs a physical exam by demonstrating what he wants her to do. Doctor Green decides that the problem is a common 44 . For medicine, he prescribes(开药方) an antibiotic(抗生素). He says about 3 out of 4 patients have 45 problems that can be treated like this—through Virtual Urgent Care, which means a video chat could 46 a visit to the doctor’s office.
“Patients’ safety is really important to us. So if we feel it is not 47 for the patient to be treated in this manner, we’re going to suggest other 48 for them,” said Green.
The Franciscan Health System is based in Tacoma, Washington. It 49 $35 for this kind of virtual house call, which is much less than the cost of going to an emergency room, a doctor’s office or an urgent care clinic.
After trying the video conference, Diana Rae says she would be 50 to pay the $35 when she was recently home with a bad cold. “I would have paid twice that for the 51 of getting taken care of without having to sit in a waiting room, wait, and get 52 everyone else’s germs,” Rae said.
Franciscan operates hospitals and clinics and has a deal with a company called Carena to add effective urgent care by Skype or phone. Carena is one of several companies doing this kind of work around the country. But a company official says state rules have not kept 53 with developments in telemedicine.
Telemedicine is the name for when doctors give advice to patients by telephone or the Internet, or when health care providers in rural areas connect with specialists in big cities.
39. A. rested B. existed C. survived D. vanished
40. A. keeping B. occupying C. striking D. raising
41. A. offer B. advertise C. prohibit D. criticize
42. A. predicted B. published C. demonstrated D. claimed
43. A. symptoms B. emotions C. medicines D. coughs
44. A. mistake B. infection C. experience D. sense
45. A. heart B. security C. drug D. health
46. A. pay B. cancel C. replace D. include
47. A. necessary B. smart C. hard D. safe
48. A. hospitals B. doctors C. alternatives D. networks
49. A. charges B. costs C. pays D. provides
50. A. happy B. reluctant C. excited D. surprised
51. A. delight B. convenience C. significance D. embarrassment
52. A. infected with B. exposed to C. shocked at D. fascinated by
53. A. contact B. company C. progress D. communication
BDACA BDCDC AABBC