Telehealth systems in Canada are redefining the medical landscape and putting patient care as a primary concern. A national study put on by Praxia Information Intelligence and Gartner shows stunning growth in Telehealth use in the country last year.
With more than 5,700 Telehealth systems in at least 1,175 communities across the country, Canada is a global leader in improving access to care by connecting patients and care providers in different, and frequently, remote locations via telecommunication technologies.
"Across the country, use of Telehealth is growing rapidly, bridging the distance between patients and their care providers," said Dr. Jennifer Zelmer, senior vice-president for Clinical Adoption and Innovation Canada Health Infoway.
"Canadians do not have to travel as often to receive care, and the study reports improvements in access to care, quality, and productivity valued at millions of dollars last year," says Zelmer,
She says the study showed that Telehealth is used to "bring specialized care closer to home."
"It connects patients to health care that isn't available in some places," says Zelmer.
"We also can use special equipment to monitor things like blood pressure."
Over a quarter of a million services took place in Canada last year, and the benefits for patients can be overwhelming.
"This improves access to care. We saved 47 million kilometres in travel last year alone," says Zelmer.
"People can receive better care closer to home. Several evaluations showed improved quality of life, and over 80 per cent of patients were satisfied. "This could also mean less in-hospital care," says Zelmer. "We're already touching the lives of thousands each year."
Marc Pelletier, head of cardiac surgery at the New Brunswick Heart Centre, says Telehealth is an important tool for New Brunswick health care providers.
"When I moved to be head of the department in September 2007, it was already in existence. It's been around for about 15 years," says Pelletier.
Pelletier moved to Saint John from California, and says Telehealth is "one of the things Canada is doing better than the U.S."
"It allows communication several days after being in the hospital. We can do visits and follow-ups this way," says Pelletier.
He says of the 750 open heart surgeries the centre does per year, "450 to 500 patients go home with this service."
The only problem with the method is that "physicians can't be more hands-on."
"But we've trained the nurses to look for what we are looking for," says Pelletier. "We occasionally have to get the patient to come down anyway, but that's only in about five per cent of cases."
He says the Telehealth service would only cost more to pay employees.
"The cost is higher in nursing care because you need one on both ends of the call," says Pelletier.
"But the equipment that was purchased has a good record and many years of service."
Patient reaction to the Telehealth initiative has been "good for the most part."
"They appreciate the service, and the follow-up with Telehealth," says Pelletier.
"Every day they get access to a nurse, and it's like an extended hospital stay for seven days."
The surgeon is excited about the technological leaps Telehealth allows the department to take.
"For us in New Brunswick it's important to develop centres of excellence. We can improve our communication and care."
The services can range from wound care to cancer care, and Liz Loewen is excited for the possibilities this presents.
"Canada is a global Telehealth leader. We have the potential to further its use until it becomes a standard tool for health professionals to deliver care in remote, rural and urban settings," said Liz Loewen, director, co-ordination of care, for Manitoba eHealth. She also serves as Chair/COACH Board Member for the Canadian Telehealth Forum.
"We are well on our way, however, as noted in the report, critical success factors including change management and adoption must be addressed in order to fully realize Telehealth's potential," says Loewen.
"This is a major milestone for us working in the field."
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Jordan Parker
Quelle/Source: Times and Transcript, 03.06.2011
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