Established in 1996, the UC Davis Telehealth Program began seeking technological solutions to improving health care in rural communities. Today, UC Davis partners with many community hospitals and clinics throughout Northern California to provide residents and their physicians with access to specialized medical care and education through the use of telecommunications technology.

Using high-speed data lines linked to video units at the UC Davis Medical Center and outlying California hospitals and clinics, physicians and patients can have a live interactive consultation with a UC Davis specialist by simply dialing him or her up on video.

• A short video of an outpatient telemedicine consultation

Often times it is very difficult for a patient to drive the many miles it may take to reach a specialist at the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. If there are transportation challenges or a particular condition where time is of the essence, telemedicine is the key to accessing a specialist who can assist in the diagnosis and best possible treatment plan for the patient.

Rural-PRIME is a combined, five-year M.D. and master’s degree program focusing on developing physicians who can become leaders and advocates for improving healthcare delivery throughout the state’s smaller, more isolated communities. Rural-PRIME offers an innovative curriculum, specifically geared towards students from rural backgrounds who have a strong desire to make a difference in communities like the ones they were raised in. A significant feature of Rural-PRIME is the integration of telemedicine training, leveraging UC Davis' expertise in this area to offer quick access from remote areas to specialty care at UC Davis Health System.

• Ten minute video of an in-patient telemedicine consultation