Contact: Paul Meznarich
715-838-5805
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — When a patient came to see Dr. Rick Stoughton, a physician at Luther Midelfort Oakridge in Mondovi, her skin condition was unlike anything he had encountered. But within that same appointment, he had the condition diagnosed, treatment prescribed and critical follow-up exams scheduled, all because of a new diagnostic program being used throughout the Luther Midelfort system.
“It’s an outstanding program,” Dr. Stoughton said. “It really helped me nail the diagnosis.”
The software features a catalog of thousands of detailed photographs and symptoms that can be searched using laymen and medical terminology. Once a diagnosis is selected, the program alerts the physician of any underlying medical conditions or complications that also should be assessed.
“It’s the most comprehensive atlas of pathologies available,” Dr. Stoughton said.
The license to the software was purchased as part of Luther Midelfort’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of its care, said Dr. Terrance Borman, medical director.
“It’s one more step of giving our patients the right care at the right time,” he said.
In Dr. Stoughton’s case, his patient was able to be treated immediately in her hometown, as opposed to waiting on a diagnosis or being sent to a specialist in a larger city.
“She was treated according to the program guidelines, and her condition improved significantly,” he said.
Physicians throughout the Luther Midelfort system hospitals and clinics can access the program through a “medical resources” link from any office or exam room computer.
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In partnership with Mayo Clinic, Luther Midelfort offers a full range of quality medical services, including cardiac and orthopedic surgery, cancer and trauma care programs. Through a network of community-based healthcare providers in west-central Wisconsin, Luther Midelfort provides access to experts close to home.
