Great use of health IT: inmates to visit doctors electronically

AP is reporting about how prison inmates will be visiting doctors electronically in Kentucky. More specifically:

Inmates in Kentucky’s jails and prisons will receive most non-routine medical visits electronically under a new program designed to save time and money, Lt. Gov. Steve Pence said yesterday.

The program, already in limited use, is expected to expand to all 13 prisons and 75 jails in the state by spring.

What’s great here is that service will improve but costs may decrease by up to 40%. They have done the studies that show that they may save up to $9 million this year alone. Pretty good way to use health IT, I’d say.