technology
Dr. Brent Ohata on the monitor, ready to start the first virtual patient visit from his office in Burnaby.
MEDICAL SPECIALISTS LAND ON THE SHORES
OF STUART LAKE IMPROVING CARE, SUPPORTING PHYSICIANS, AND ENGAGING SPECIALISTS: TELEHEALTH IS WIN-WIN-WIN IN FORT ST. JAMES! Kris Nielsen, Practice Support Program Coach, Northern Health
November 14, 2016, was an exciting day for residents and health care providers in Fort St. James. Although the Fort St. James Medical Clinic, its physicians and staff, and the patients in the clinic that day all looked the same as they might have on any other day, what happened that fall morning marked a significant change to health care in this community. November 14, 2016, was the first day that the medical clinic piloted secure, in-clinic telehealth. This is a great step in supporting patients to stay in their home community for more of their health care needs.
On the 14th, patients with joint and muscle concerns came to the Fort St. James Medical Clinic as they have many times before. They checked in for their appointment and were escorted to the exam room. That’s when things started to get a little different and a little exciting! Within minutes, the patient and their family doctor were talking with a rheumatology specialist in Vancouver via a computer monitor. Computer technology is creating opportunities for a different type of “face-toface” between the specialist, the patient, and his or her family physician. If this was a typical face-to-face visit, a rural patient could be one of many patients waiting six months or longer to see this specialist. This appointment with a unique specialist would normally require travel, time off work, hotel stays, and more. What are patients saying about telehealth in Fort St. James? After their consultations with the rheumatology specialist, patients were very pleased with the service. “This program can benefit so many people in small communities,” said one patient. “The wait time is so short compared to if I had to travel. It was easy to talk to [the specialist] on the computer monitor and I have my family physician available to support me at any time during the consult.” Another patient commented, “I really appreciate this new way of seeing a specialist and I don’t have to leave my community. I don’t have to worry about travelling on winter roads or the expense of going to Vancouver to see this specialist.” What about the doctors?
Dr. Anthon Meyer and patient Kay Hall. 8
Healthier You
SPRING 2017
For Fort St. James Medical Clinic director Dr. Anthon Meyer, who attended the telehealth appointments, realtime access to specialists like this for his rural patients makes a world of difference. “This is truly patientcentred care,” said Dr. Meyer. “It provides access to specialist services when the patient requires the service and where the patient requires the service, in real time.