TELEHEALTH SPANS DISTANCES FOR COMMUNITIES IN HEARTLAND HEALTH REGION

Patients and health providers in the communities of Heartland Health Region will benefit from an expansion of Telehealth services announced today by Health Minister John Nilson. A new Telehealth site in Kindersley is part of an expansion that takes in Regina Qu'Appelle and four other southern regions.

The Kindersley based site will improve rural patients' access to specialists in cities, and help to retain rural doctors and other health care professionals who want to stay connected to their urban colleagues, as well as research and educational opportunities.

"This expansion is part of our government's Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care goal to improve the quality of health services and access to care for Saskatchewan residents, no matter where they live," Nilson said. "It is an initiative that supports our province's doctors, health providers and medical residents by providing a strong network of Telehealth services to allow them to connect with peers and participate in education sessions. Ultimately, this helps them improve their knowledge and provide better care to their patients."

The new Regina site will act as the Network's southern anchor, with staff organizing many of the Network's clinics and education programs for the new southern sites located in Kindersley (Heartland RHA), Weyburn (Sun Country RHA), Swift Current (Cypress RHA), Moose Jaw (Five Hills RHA), and Yorkton (Sunrise Regional Health Authority). The expansion increases the Telehealth Saskatchewan Network to 17 sites in 15 of the province's communities.

Regina's new Telehealth suite is already allowing medical residents training in the city to participate in regular educational sessions with their Saskatoon colleagues.

"It is extremely important that the medical residents training in Regina have the ability to participate in the rounds and learn more about the latest techniques and medical cases," Dean of the College of Medicine Dr. William Albritton said, adding that Telehealth eliminates isolation that can occur for medical residents and health providers in Saskatchewan."

Telehealth also provides tremendous clinical benefits by providing patients with specialized health care services closer to their homes.

"I am pleased that Heartland is able to be part of this network. Telehealth has the potential to offer so much to both residents and health professionals. Our residents can eventually keep appointments with some specialists through Telehealth. Health professionals can access education sessions that would be inaccessible otherwise. This aspect of Telehealth is going to help us recruit in rural Saskatchewan. Telehealth will be a big part of Heartlands future," the Region's CEO Eugene Motruk said.

Support for the network expansion and upgrades is part of a collaborative initiative, including a provincial contribution of $1.5 million, $1 million from a Health Canada federal grant, and $200,000 from the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority.

Since the inception of the network in July of 1999, approximately 9,500 participants have attended 670 education sessions and nearly 1,000 patients have been seen during 390 specialist clinics.

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For More Information, Contact:

Vanessa Gooliaff Beaupre Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083