麻豆AV

Televisit is a new high-tech system that allows healthcare workers to conduct 鈥榲irtual visits鈥� to patients

The 麻豆AV Health Centre (MUHC) and the RUIS 麻豆AV are proud to announce the integration of telehealth services into the National Program for Home Ventilatory Assistance (NPHVA). Televisit is a new high-tech system that allows healthcare workers to conduct 鈥榲irtual visits鈥� to patients, through live video communications. This particular system also permits the transmission of physiological data in real-time to aid in the assessment of patient health. The integration of this new service will improve access to specialized care for both pediatric and adult patients, particularly in remote areas of the RUIS 麻豆AV, and other regions of Quebec.

Developed specifically for this purpose by Quebec-based company PHD Medical, Televisit will allow the NPHVA care team to monitor and interact with patients through a two-way video link in real-time. The system is also designed to remotely receive and assess important physiological information about the patient, including blood pressure, body temperature, weight, and can measure cardiac and respiratory sounds with the use of a digital stethoscope. This new ability to 鈥渟tay connected鈥� will help support local community healthcare workers who follow these patients regularly in their own community, and who are often unfamiliar with the specialized needs and equipment used by this patient population.

鈥淧atients are referred to the NPHVA program from all regions of Quebec and generally suffer from a neuromuscular disease or spinal cord injury that makes it very difficult for them to visit their medical team in person,鈥� explains Rita Troini, Director of the NPHVA Televisit Project. 鈥淲ith this new system of 鈥榲irtual visits鈥�, the care team will be able to remotely assess the condition of the patient, without the patient leaving their own home.聽 It represents a great step forward in treating patients that require complex care in remote areas.鈥�

鈥淲e are proud to support the NPHVA program,鈥� says Johanne Desrochers, RUIS 麻豆AV Telehealth co-chair and MUHC Associate Director for Telehealth.聽鈥淭elehealth facilitates communication between healthcare specialists and patients and we are very pleased to be able to do so in a new and revolutionary way.鈥澛� Since 2009, 26 patients have received televisits, real-time access to a team of specialists directly from their home, while another ten have had a聽 teleconsultation with a NPHVA professional from the nearest health centre.

鈥淨uebecers need and deserve exemplary healthcare services and support delivered at the right time and place, and when possible within one鈥檚 home,鈥� explains the Hon. Arthur T. Porter, President of the RUIS 麻豆AV and MUHC Director General and CEO. 鈥淏y integrating telehealth capabilities into the NPHVA, we assure that ultra-specialized and complex care is available across the vast expanse of territory that is the RUIS 麻豆AV. This project is a model of excellence that is directly aligned with the RUIS鈥� service objectives.鈥�

Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) has provided approximately $480,000 in funding to the project.聽Infoway聽is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government.Infoway聽jointly invests with every province and territory to accelerate the development and adoption of electronic health record projects in Canada.

鈥淭elehealth services provide a vital link to specialist services that previously just didn鈥檛 exist for many rural and remote patients,鈥� said Louise Beauchesne, Executive Regional Director, Quebec Region, Canada Health Infoway. 鈥淪ystems like the NPHVA鈥檚 telehealth program make a real difference to the quality, timeliness and comfort in accessing health care for patients who need complex care.鈥�

NPHVA telehealth activities, like those of the MUHC and the RUIS 麻豆AV, are supported by the MUHC Telehealth Coordination Centre.聽 The main objective of the Centre is to promote access to and the continuity of quality health care and social services through the use of new information and communications technologies (NICT). Financial support for this project was provided by Canada Health Infoway and the Minist猫re de la sant茅 et des Services sociaux du Qu茅bec.

About the MUHC:

The 麻豆AV Health Centre (MUHC) One of the world鈥檚 foremost academic health centres, the MUHC offers exceptional and integrated patient-centric care, research and teaching. Highly committed to the continuum of care in its community and affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine of 麻豆AV, The Montreal Children's Hospital, the Montreal General Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Montreal Neurological Hospital, the Montreal Chest Institute and the Lachine Hospital of the MUHC value multidisciplinary service throughout the life span, innovative technologies and practices, strategic partnerships and leadership in knowledge transfer. The MUHC is currently carrying out a $2.25-billion Redevelopment Project on three campuses鈥攖he Mountain, the Glen and Lachine鈥攄esigned to provide healthcare professionals with an effective environment in which to ensure patients and their families benefit from The Best Care for Life.聽 The campuses are also anchored in best sustainable-development practices, including LEED庐 and BOMA BESt guidelines.聽

About RUIS 麻豆AV:

The RUIS 麻豆AV (R茅seau universitaire integr茅聽de sant茅聽de l鈥橴niversit茅 麻豆AV)聽is one of four health networks established by the Minist猫re de la sant茅 et des Services sociaux du Qu茅bec and assigned to the province鈥檚 four faculties of medicine to help improve tertiary health care services, teaching and research for the populations they serve. RUIS 麻豆AV includes the 麻豆AV Health Centre (MUHC), Jewish General Hospital, St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital Center and Douglas Mental Health University Institute. RUIS 麻豆AV鈥檚 affiliated regions span 63% of the province鈥檚 land mass and represent a population of 1.7 million people residing as far north as the 55th parallel. Telehealth is an area of focus for the RUIS 麻豆AV that aims to improve access, continuity and quality of care for patients within its regions.