Download PDF
Methods Inf Med 2005; 44(02): 334-341
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1633974
Original Article
Schattauer GmbH

Video Conferencing-based Telehealth

Its Implications for Health Promotion and Health Care
J. R. Moehr
1   School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
,
C. R. Anglin
3   Consultant, Victoria, BC, Canada
,
J. P. Schaafsma
2   Department of Economics, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
,
S. V. Pantazi
1   School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
,
S. Anglin
3   Consultant, Victoria, BC, Canada
,
N. A. Grimm
1   School of Health Information Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
05 February 2018 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Summary

Purpose: To review the experience with a province-wide telehealth system in Canada, and its implications for health care and health promotion. To explore whether group support systems (GSS) based on networked computers can substitute for video conferencing technology.

Methods: Key results of the evaluation of the BC Tele-health Program are summarized. The potential of extending the successful principles through use of GSS is explored based on literature review, demonstrations, and trial use for educational applications.

Results: The BC Telehealth Program was designed to support health professionals at secondary care facilities, such as regional and district hospitals in two application domains: children’s and women’s health (C&W) and emergency room and trauma care (ER-Trauma). Successful applications extended beyond health professionals and focused on chronic conditions, the management of which is contingent on visual information, and involves established teams in regular scheduled visits or in sessions scheduled well in advance. Ad hoc applications, in particular applications under emergency conditions proved problematic.

Administrative applications in support of telehealth implementation, e.g., through facilitation of management and provider education, are essential for clinical success. Savings from support of administrative applications exceeded the substantial capital investment and made educational and clinical applications available at variable cost. Educational applications were shown to have significant clinical benefits.

Exploration of GSS technology showed that it may not be mature enough to substitute for video conferencing technology in support of sophisticated training and education aiming at clinical impact.

Conclusion: The substantial clinical and efficiency gains provided by video conferencing-based telehealth may for now continue to depend on mature videoconferencing technology.

Keywords

Telemedicine - Canada - British Columbia - evaluation studies - health promotion
 

  • References

  • 1 Moehr J. Final Evaluation Report. BC Telehealth Program. Victoria, BC: University of Victoria. 2003 http://hinf.uvic.ca/archives/t_health.pdf.
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Premier's Technology Council. 4th Report. 2003
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Kurose J, Ross K. Multimedia Networking. In:Computer Networking. A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet. Boston, San Francisco, New York: Addison Wesley Longman; 2001: 483-563.
    Google Scholar
  • 4 Grimm N. Translating a Project-based Course on Health Care Quality Improvement to Distance Education Using the PDSA Approach. Victoria, BC: University of Victoria; 2004
    Google Scholar
  • 5 Fitzgerald J, Dennis A. Introduction to data communications. In. Business Data Communications and Networking: John Wiley & Sons; 2002
    Google Scholar