BUSINESSDoctor's firm closes the distance between rural practice and CMEA physician in Nebraska founded a company offering telemedicine and distance learning services.By Tyler Chin, amednews staff. May 26, 2003. 
Making sidelines pay
Doctors who branched out beyond running their practice tell why they did it, how they did it, and what you should know before you do it. Contribute Name: Keith Vrbicky, MD Specialty: Obstetrics-gynecology Location: Norfolk, Neb. Business: American Educational Telecommunications LLC. The St. Louis-based company offers online continuing medical education and distance learning services for physicians and other health care professionals. It also provides real-time telemedicine nursing services to elementary and high schools that don't have staff nurses. Annual revenue: Not disclosed Why he started the business: Dr. Vrbicky knew firsthand how difficult it is for physicians in rural areas to attend CME seminars and consult with specialists. He entertained the idea of starting a telemedicine or real-time videoconferencing business for several years, then acted on it in 1997. "At about that time, Internet protocols started coming out, videoconferencing became much less expensive and diagnostic telemedicine equipment became available," Dr. Vrbicky said. "As a result, I thought, 'Let's start using this technology to try to deliver these services, enhance care and [physician] education.' " [...]Business Pitch profiles are quick glimpses into the lives of physicians who are turning their interests outside of medicine into profitable enterprises.
Full text of American Medical News content, including more about how this physician got into this business and what it's like balancing it with a medical practice, is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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The doctors are in the house
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