REGINA QU'APPELLE HEALTH REGION OPENS NEW TELEHEALTH SITE

Residents of Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region now have easier access to specialized health services, with the opening of a new Telehealth Saskatchewan site.

The site is operating at Pasqua Hospital in Regina, 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 funding to expand our Telehealth system will allow us to better serve medical practitioners and patients living outside of Regina," Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region Acting Executive Director of Information Technology Randy Knapp said.

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

The provincial Telehealth network now includes 26 sites, one in every provincial, regional and district hospital, as well as several northern hospitals. 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:

Mark Torjusen Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region Regina Phone: (306) 766-5332

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