Investing in Nurses to Improve Access to Health Care in Northwestern Ontario through Technology
The North West LHIN is investing $2,034,860 to hire nurses to deliver health care through telemedicine, improving access to high quality health care for people in the region.
Organizations from across the region will be able to hire 28 new “telemedicine” nurses. These are health care practitioners who use the latest technology for virtual patient consultations, assessments, training and knowledge exchange.
As a result of this investment, more residents will receive care from specialists closer to home, decreasing the need for travel and increasing the number and types of services available across the northwest through telemedicine.
“Nurses are the hands and hearts of the health care system,” says Catherine Collinson, CEO at Nipigon District Memorial Hospital. “Their specialized knowledge and training provide care and support to patients and their families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This investment will also provide opportunities to enhance their patient-care knowledge and skills in a cost-effective manner.”
Collinson says it’s also a good example of collaboration between the North West LHIN and health service providers.
“Achieving healthier communities is a great task, one that cannot be accomplished by an organization working alone,” she says. “Only through partnerships between providers, funders and the communities can we serve the best interests of our patients, clients and our region.”
First introduced to northern Ontario in 1998, telemedicine:
- Improves access to health care across the region
- Eliminates costly and time-consuming long distance travel
The North West LHIN acknowledges the critical role played by the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) in facilitating more effective and efficient delivery of health care services to the region.
QUICK FACTS
- In 2010/11, the use of telemedicine in the North West LHIN resulted in more than $11 million in avoided travel costs, and more than 27 million kilometres in avoided patient travel.
- There are 134 active OTN sites and 210 active systems in the Northwest.
- In 2010/11, Northwestern Ontario hosted 23,426 clinical events on the Network.
LEARN MORE
The North West LHIN is responsible for planning, integrating and funding local health services – hospitals, long term care facilities, the community care access centre, community health centres, community support services and mental health and addictions agencies. The North West LHIN and its Board of Directors are responsible for over $560 million of health care services delivered in Northwestern Ontario.
