Telehealth services are spreading throughout the Sun Country Health Region.
The health care team that serves the southeast sector of Saskatchewan reported this past week that new Telehealth equipment and service had arrived at the Weyburn Primary Care Clinic. The community of Maryfield is now seriously looking at acquiring equipment that will allow their local primary care clinic to offer similar services.
The benefits of Telehealth are pronounced as it allows patients with a variety of ills or ailments to access the services of specialists without having to undergo hours of travel and exposure to unwanted conditions and wait times.
St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan has several Telehealth stations and one primary care clinic where the service is provided on a partnership agreement with the health region.
The equipment placed in the Weyburn clinic was purchased for them by eHealth, the Ministry of Health’s technology services sector as part of a trial case. Four other locations across the province received equipment to increase patient care and provide uptake of virtual clinics in a new setting.
“This became an opportunity to align patients with the best possible venue using staff at the clinic for Telehealth services rather than asking them to go to the already busy emergency department at Weyburn General Hospital,” said Wanda Miller, director of primary health care for Sun Country.
The targeted services for the site involves specialist referrals and ongoing disease management.
Telehealth sessions will include pre-operation sessions for hip and knee replacements, cancer care, spinal pathways, pelvic floor pathways, patient specialist appointments, education and caregiver support sessions.
Many communities have access to Telehealth, said Joanne Helmer, Sun Country’s communications co-ordinator, but they are not always in primary health clinics.
Patients have expressed their gratitude for being able to stay in their home community while having access to specialists, education and support sessions without having to travel, said Brenda Clark, primary health care co-ordinator at the Weyburn clinic.
Reducing the exposure and travel requirements are a big plus, and the access to the necessary specialists on an appointment schedule, were huge advantages, the patients said.
