EXPANDING TELEHEALTH NETWORK IMPROVES RURAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS

Patients will have even greater access to specialized medical services from within their communities. Saskatchewan's Telehealth network is expanding into eight new locations, using health funding committed at the 2004 First Ministers' Meeting.

Saskatchewan Health has approved locations in Saskatoon (City Hospital), Regina (Pasqua Hospital), Humboldt, Melfort, Tisdale, Estevan, Melville and Lloydminster. The expansion will cost about $400,000, and will bring the total number of Telehealth sites in the province to 26. With this expansion, Telehealth services will be available in our provincial, regional, district and northern hospitals.

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.

"This expansion helps achieve the vision first outlined in our 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."

Each of the new Telehealth sites will contain videoconferencing equipment that allows clinical appointments to be completed over great distances. The first of the new sites are expected to begin operating in late spring.

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, among others.

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

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For More Information, Contact:

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