It may be small, but Sonoma Valley Hospital is leading the state in medical technology by fighting infections with the use of telemedicine.

Partnering with Dr. Javeed Siddiqui of UC Davis Medical Center, the staff at Sonoma Valley Hospital is routinely able to get expert opinion on infection cases using the state of the art technology.

"Programs like this are great because they allow us to offer high quality medical care in this small community that we would never have been able to offer otherwise," said Carl Gerlach, chief executive officer at Sonoma Valley Hospital. "When we don't have that particular specialist on board, telemedicine allows us to reach out to the best medical centers for their expertise."

Siddiqui is using the program to study the benefits of telemedicine, and recently presented his findings at the annual conference of the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Telemedicine is growing increasingly popular as a method of health-care delivery at smaller hospitals. Using new technology and an Internet hookup, the staff at Sonoma Valley Hospital can instantly contact a physician at UC Davis Medical Center, who can use a camera and monitor to see the problem and offer advice in real time. At smaller hospitals where the market for specialists is limited, this new technology allows the staff to get immediate expert opinions from professionals who are miles away.

"It makes (the patients) feel more comfortable because they're getting a consultation from an expert," said Courtney McMahon, the hospital's infection control coordinator.

Sonoma Valley Hospital launched the telemedicine program in 2007 for the pediatric department, but quickly found other uses for the technology. McMahon, a nurse, was put in charge of infection control at the hospital, but didn't feel comfortable taking on all the responsibility herself.

Her problem was solved when the hospital partnered up with Siddiqui, an infectious disease specialist, who agreed to help guide the hospital's response to infection.

To date, Siddiqui has consulted on dozens of infection cases ranging from diabetic foot ulcers and wound checks to pneumonia and osteomyelitis. McMahon said the technology is almost as good as having the doctor in the room, because he can use the camera to zoom in to get an up close look and talk to the patients in real time.

McMahon steps in from time to time to act as Siddiqui's "hands," feeling wounds for heat or checking the see where it hurts.

"He has a good view, he can zoom right in on wounds," McMahon said.

The program is also being used to better treat infections in the pharmacy department. Antibiotics are prescribed so frequently, that many Americans are beginning to experience antibiotic resistance, meaning the drugs are not as effective in the body. Hospital pharmacists frequently check with Siddiqui for advice on prescriptions and to keep up with the latest trends in antibiotics.

"We're learning to use antibiotics in a more responsible way," McMahon said.

Every week, McMahon, Microbiologist Pamela Wiley and several pharmacists gather around the machine to meet with Siddiqui, providing consistent communication about patients and treatment options.  

"(Siddiqui) has gone above and beyond the details of his contract to make the program work for us," McMahon said. "The (telemedicine program) is going to keep evolving."