Telehealth refers to the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to deliver health services, expertise and information over distance. Working in regions across Canada,
xwave is helping to put in place strategies and infrastructures supporting effective Telehealth programs. Such programs have the potential to improve:
• access to care—shortened travel time and increase convenience for patients
• patient participation—increased patient participation in home care
• availability—enhanced access to healthcare services in the home and community
• efficiency—reduced travel time and costs for patients and providers
• care coordination—enhanced ability to support multidisciplinary care for remote patients
Telehealth can support services across the entire spectrum of healthcare including diagnosis, treatment and disease-prevention. It has experienced significant growth over the past decade and will prove an increasingly important channel for service-delivery, particularly given its potential in conjunction with interoperable electronic health records (iEHRs): Drug, laboratory, diagnostic-imaging and other patient-related data is made immediately available to remote providers in support of clinical decision-making and patient management. Well-integrated into routine clinical practice, Telehealth can considerably improve healthcare efficiency and cost effectiveness. Examples of ways in which
xwave's healthcare practice has helped implement Telehealth include: