|
|
 |
| |
BEGINNINGS |
 |
BACKGROUND |
| |
|
The “TeleCare” project was born during the Spring of 2004, when the BC Cancer Foundation requested support from District 19-I Lions / Lioness clubs for an initiative to bring the benefits of “Telehealth” to cancer patients on Vancouver Island. (“Telehealth” is defined as the use of communication and information technology to deliver health and health care services, information and education where the participants are separated by geography.)
45% of cancer patients visiting the Vancouver Island Cancer Center (VICC) in Victoria BC, face travel from outside the Capital Regional District to meet with their oncologist and to receive treatments.
|
|
Dr Brian Weinerman, past Regional Vice President, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island, designed a Telehealth research project in 2003, to determine the feasibility and acceptability of using video conferencing technology to conduct sub specialty oncology consultations. The research project was a success, concluding that there was no difference in satisfaction with the consultation experience, between the patients who participated in a video consultation and those who experienced a face-to-face consultation. A decision was therefore reached to pursue the installation of appropriate video-conferencing and remote diagnostic equipment at five island locations outside of the Capital Regional District.
|
| |
PROJECT DESCRIPTION |
|
PROJECT BENEFITS |
| |
|
The Telehealth video-link is created with a video camera with remote zoom capability, two video monitors, and a telecommunications link to access the patients' complete electronic health record (which includes radiology, lab results and history). The equipment is installed in a clinical area within the target health care facility, in a space that replicates a patient examination room. Trained health care personnel in the hospitals provide onsite support for patients. The patient’s appointment with the specialist is very similar to a face-to-face encounter, the principal difference being the interaction in front of the video screen. Video-conferencing utilizes ISDN or IP technology, and a typical site installation costs approximately $27,000. Total costs for the Lions District 19-I project are expected to reach $143,000.
“Telehealth” is the way of the future. The BC Cancer Agency sees tremendous opportunity to improve the patient experience on Vancouver Island through the use of video-conferencing technology.
|
|
The benefits to patients include:
- Decreased stress because patients can remain close to the support of family and friends
- Decreased personal costs for travel, meals, and accommodation
- Less loss of work
- Less need for patients to arrange for care of dependents
- Expediency. (Patients are more likely to have a necessary consultation if there is no travel requirement)
- Improved access to medical sub-specialists. (Oncologists now sub-specialize so that they only treat certain types of cancer. We can never hope to recruit enough oncologists to populate the Island, but we can offer sub-specialty consultations to our patients through Telehealth)
Benefits will also accrue to education, training and prevention programs; for example:
- Enhanced “new patient” orientation. (New patients from remote regions would have an opportunity to "link in" to Victoria-based New Patient Orientation sessions, at minimal inconvenience to the patient)
- Patient education programs
- Genetic counseling
- Staff team teaching and training opp
|
| Lions Involvement
District 19-I Cabinet approved the “TeleCare” project in 2004, with unanimous support of all 61 lions and lioness clubs in the multiple district. To date, more than $64,000 has been raised and donated by 50 clubs and the campaign continues. An application for an LCIF matching funds grant received District approval in November 2005, and will be reviewed by LCIF in March of 2006.
District 19-I “TeleCare” project is an exceptional initiative that highlights what can be achieved when the resources of an entire District are brought to bear and focused on a broad based community need.
The BC Cancer Foundation has only good things to say about the Lions and Lioness clubs’ successful campaign. “The BC Cancer Foundation is so grateful to all the Lions and Lioness District 19-I members for their sustained support of the Foundation in each of their communities,” says Foundation director of development Laura Walsh. “They have made the TeleCare program possible for so many Vancouver Island cancer patients.”
|
|
** UNITY **
