SUN COUNTRY HEALTH REGION OPENS NEW TELEHEALTH SITE

Residents of Sun Country Health Region now have easier access to specialized health services, with the opening of a new Telehealth Saskatchewan site.

The site is operating in Estevan, using videoconferencing equipment to connect patients with medical specialists over long distances.

Health Minister Len Taylor said the initiative supports the government's goal of providing high quality health services to all residents, no matter where they live.

"People who need to consult a specialist should not face economic or geographical barriers that prevent them from receiving those services," Taylor said. "Telehealth not only helps patients connect with specialists, but supports health providers with continuing medical education, and helps rural professionals and medical residents keep in touch with their urban colleagues."

"This new Telehealth site gives our health region another option in making specialized services available to our residents," Sun Country Regional Health Authority Chair Earl Kickley said. "It will help us better serve patients and health care professionals, by offering services closer to home in convenient, comfortable surroundings."

Estevan's new site is one of eight locations recently opened across the province. The others are in Humboldt, Melfort, Tisdale, Melville, Lloydminster, Regina and Saskatoon.

The provincial Telehealth network now includes 26 sites, one in every provincial, regional, district and northern hospital. The newest sites were financed out of the $66 million Saskatchewan received as a result of the 2004 First Ministers' Meeting.

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For More Information, Contact:

Earl Kickley Sun Country Health Region Weyburn Phone: (306) 487-2463

Jocelyn Argue Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-4083