(Machias) Equipment made available through a grant awarded to Eastern Maine Medical Center has been installed in Down East Community's emergency department and became operational on December 1. Physicians and nurses are being trained to use this valuable technology that provides real-time audio and video communications with subspecialists at Eastern Maine. The technology allows practitioners at Eastern Maine to converse with caregivers and patients in our emergency department and with physicians who have been individually credentialed to provide services in this manner. Currently, neurology (including stroke care), intensive pediatric services and trauma medicine will be available. In addition, the results of our laboratory work, x-rays and other documentation will all be accessible to Eastern Maine consultants. Whether or not the patient is transferred to another facility, telemedicine ensures that a second opinion is easily obtained and, for those patients who are transferred, the subspecialist’s orders are more likely to be implemented prior to transfer instead of waiting for the patient to arrive in Bangor. With this technology the receiving hospital is also more likely to be fully prepared with the resources necessary to provide the very best care. According to Lisa Torraca, MD, chief of emergency medicine at Down East Community, “Telemedicine is becoming common in rural medicine applications and we are privileged to be a partner with Eastern Maine Medical Center when responding to the needs of our friends and neighbors here in Washington County.”