e-health is an integrated set of telecommunication technologies, accurate and timely information, and related process enhancements that together enable the efficient delivery of health care services, and incorporate the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Telehealth.
NEW PUBLICATION: Developing Community eHealth
Developing Community eHealth - Starting the eHealth discussion with BC First Nations | pdf download |
Community level services are self-directing, each with their own planning processes and cycles, and with accountabilities to their Health Board and/or Chief’s and Councils, and members. As such this document is not intended as an eHealth plan.
Rather, its purpose is to identify viable and relevant entry points through which communities can pursue their developmental paths with respect to eHealth.
While First Nations Health organizations and departments share many commonalities, they are also unique in many ways. Therefore, the answer to the questions of if-where- how eHealth can add value and be of assistance to these services, will vary across communities.
By creating a dynamic and non-linear picture of eHealth development areas, we hope that this document will continue to be of value for communities in different ways at different points in their journey as health service providers.
Developing Community eHealth was produced with the generous input of BC First Nations Health Directors, the technical team would like to extend a big THANK YOU to all of the Health Directors that took part in informing this document.
Health Centre Challenges and eHealth Survey Results
FNHDA / FNHC Health Centre Challenges and eHealth - Feedback Report | pdf download |
BC First Nations Health Directors and Senior Health Leads were asked by the First Nations Health Directors Association to provide feedback on draft identification and description of six Health Centre challenges that would inform a discussion document regarding eHealth opportunities for Health Centres. The document was distributed to one hundred and sixty-three (163) Health Directors / Senior Health Leads. An online survey instrument was used to facilitate feedback.
Fifty-eight (58) feedback responses were submitted. The majority of responses were from Health Directors (70%). There was a good distribution of responses from across each of the Health Authority regions, approximating actual geographic distribution of communities (+/-10%).
Feedback confirms the significance and relevance of the six Health Centre challenges presented:
- ACCOUNTABILITY-REPORTING: +70% rate as a ‘very significant’ or ‘significant’ challenge
- ACCESS TO SERVICES: +82% rate as ‘very significant’ or ‘significant’ challenge
- FRAGMENTED HEALTH RECORD: +72% rate as a’ very significant’ or ‘significant’ challenge
- SERVICE REFERRALS: +68% rate as a’ very significant’ or ‘significant’ challenge
- CONNECTIVITY & INFASTRUCTURE: 66% rate as a’ very significant’ or ‘significant’ challenge
- INTEROPERABILITY: +76% rate as a’ very significant’ or ‘significant’ challenge
The presentation below provides an overview and status updates regarding:
1. Provincial eHealth & Telehealth project activities in BC
2. Tripartite Commitment to First Nations eHealth & Telehealth
3. Tripartite First Nations eHealth and Telehealth project activities
eHealth & Telehealth overview 2009 | pdf download |
Telehealth is the delivery of health information and services using technology such as videoconferencing and high speed telecommunications to transfer images, voice and data over distance. A Telehealth workstation consists of a camera, monitor, computer, peripheral devices, TV and equipment that allow you to link to the consulting specialist’s office. Telehealth sites can link to other provincial, national or international sites.
Panorama is an electronic public health surveillance and case management system that is proposed to enhance the ability of public health professionals to work within and across multi-disciplinary teams, Regions, Provinces and Territories in order to improve health outcomes related to communicable disease; identify, investigate and manage communicable disease outbreaks; manage immunization programs efficiently; communicate important public health information related to communicable diseases through alerts and notifications; and conduct research and analysis to support preparedness for future communicable disease outbreaks and health related risks to communicable diseases.
Current Projects
The e-health portfolio is being worked on in partnership with First Nations, the Ministry of Health and First Nations Inuit Health (FNIH). The major projects currently being worked on are: Telehealth, Panorama, and Connectivity.
Program goals and objectives:
1) Liaison with BC First Nations, federal and provincial partners, and other organizations to share best practices in e-health.
2) Support and promote the development and implementation of innovative e-health solutions.
Health plan action item
Action item 23- “Create a fully integrated clinical telehealth network.” This item is a foundational piece to implementing other action items identified in the Health Plan.
Committee List:
First Nations Inuit Health Branch Panorama Working Group
BC/Yukon Public Health Information Project
AFN e-health Technicians
First Nations Technology Council
Framework for Telehealth/e-health Initiatives for FN Advisory Committee