SUNRISE HEALTH REGION TO OPEN NEW TELEHEALTH SITE

Patients in Sunrise Health Region will have even greater access to specialized medical services. Saskatchewan's Telehealth network is expanding into Melville and seven other locations across the province, using health funding committed at the 2004 First Ministers' Meeting.

The other locations approved by Saskatchewan Health are Saskatoon (City Hospital), Regina (Pasqua Hospital), Humboldt, Melfort, Lloydminster, Tisdale and Estevan. The expansion will cost about $400,000, and will bring the total number of Telehealth sites in the province to 26.

Telehealth Saskatchewan uses videoconference links across its provincial network to connect patients with specialists, saving time and travel expenses. It is also used to deliver continuing medical education to doctors and nurses in rural and remote locations. Telehealth can also reduce the sense of isolation often felt by rural health providers or medical residents, by connecting them with their colleagues in urban centres for patient consultations.

"The expansion supports the vision first outlined in The Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care to improve the quality of services and access to care for all residents, no matter where they live," Health Minister John Nilson said. "We are committed to working with our health partners to reduce the geographical barriers some residents face, and make it easier for them to access specialized services."

"Telehealth is a tremendous asset to our communities, to medical professionals, and to individual patients," Deputy Premier Clay Serby said. "It supports our belief that health services should be readily available to everyone."

With the expansion, the province will achieve its goal of establishing Telehealth services in every provincial, regional, district and northern hospital.

"The addition of our Melville site gives patients and employees another choice in health care access," Sunrise Health Region CEO Joe Kirwan said. "The Telehealth service increases resources and convenience for staff and clients in the Sunrise Health Region."

Each of the new Telehealth sites will receive $50,000 worth of videoconferencing equipment that allows clinical appointments to be completed over great distances. The new sites are expected to begin operating in late spring and early summer.

Telehealth began in 1999 as a pilot project in northern Saskatchewan. It now serves about 4,000 Saskatchewan residents and health care providers every year. Patients can book appointments for surgical follow-up, or consultations in areas such as child psychiatry, dermatology or pediatric general surgery.

To find out more about Telehealth, visit: www.health.gov.sk.ca/ps_telehealth.html

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Donaldson Sunrise Health Region Yorkton Phone: (306) 786-0733