The Ontario Telemedicine Network uses two-way computer videoconferencing to provide patients with access to care in hospitals and health-care locations across the province, as well as enabling educational programs and meetings for health-care professionals and patients.
Across the Central East Local Health Integration Network, 20 telemedicine nurses have been recruited and the service has been made available at more than 80 sites.
Locally, according to the hospital’s vice-president of patient services and chief nursing executive, Helen Brenner, the hospital received $39,853 from the LHIN in base funding last year to support the hiring of a telemedicine nurse. That funding has been annualized, with $63,766 budgeted for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
"NHH is very grateful to be among the Central East LHIN hospitals now benefiting from new funding for dedicated telemedicine nursing support,” Brenner added last week.
“Through telemedicine services made available through the Ontario Telemedicine Network, local patients can access health-care services that they may not have previously been able to connect with here at home, including consultations with specialists.
“Telemedicine is also adding to our ability to enhance training and development opportunities for our staff, giving us an inexpensive and timely way to tap our health-care team into the expertise of professionals at other centres.”
The Central East LHIN press release announcing the news noted that hospitals, community health centres and community agencies are already linking up to support patients in the LHIN’s Geriatric Assessment Clinics, chronic-disease programs, and mental health and addiction services.
“Telemedicine nurses use the latest technology for virtual patient consultations, assessments, training and knowledge exchange,” the bulletin said.
“Using telemedicine, health-care professionals are able to deliver clinical care using live, two-way videoconferencing systems and related diagnostic equipment. Patients and health-care practitioners are able to speak together, and information such as blood pressure, respiratory function and test results can be instantaneously transmitted.”
“We look forward to sharing further details with our community in the months ahead as our telemedicine activities expand,” Brenner said.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Cecilia Nasmith
Quelle/Source: Northumberland Today, 22.07.2012
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