1. Telehealth in BC: From Vision to Action First Nations Technology Council Annual Conference February 24 2006

2. What is Telehealth? The use of advanced telecommunications technologies to exchange health information and provide health care services across the geographic, time, social and cultural barriers. (Canadian Society of Telehealth 2001)

3. Continuum of Telehealth Applications Internet- Based Decision Support Mobile/ Fixed Decision Support Device Store & Forward Data or Image Tele- phone Advice Video- Confer- ence Clinical Encounter Group Video Encounter Robotic Surgery AsynchronousReal Time No Person- To-Person Contact No Face-to Face Contact Distance Encounter

4. BC Telehealth Planning Project Focus Video-enhanced clinical and professional education encounters Video-enhanced clinical and professional education encounters In particular in small, remote and isolated communities Telehealth can improve and enhance access to services and support local service providers and clients In particular in small, remote and isolated communities Telehealth can improve and enhance access to services and support local service providers and clients Many of the most remote and under- serviced communities are First Nations Many of the most remote and under- serviced communities are First Nations

5. Planning to create a comprehensive telehealth system requires a partnership of all key players – First Nations, federal government, province.

6. First Nations Partners Heiltsuk Nation – VCHA Sto:lo Nation – FHA Nisgaa – Nisgaa Carrier Sekani Family Services – NHA Three Corners Health Services – IHA Inter Tribal Health Authority - VIHA Mandated FN Health Organizations Serving isolated communities Serving or linked to more than one community Telehealth ready

7. Planning Process Review MoH & HA Service priorities Report to the Provincial Telehealth Steering Committee Undertake Literature Review Assess Needs And Readiness Inter- operability Challenges Needed Investment Streams Fact Finding Convergence Assess Current & Needed connectivity

8. Vision for Telehealth in BC a single and interoperable telehealth system that uses information and communications technologies to enable health services to be delivered province wide to a single standard where excellence is the defining factor regardless of distance and geography.

9. Core Messages We need to create a comprehensive, coherent telehealth system in BC. This requires partnership We need to create a comprehensive, coherent telehealth system in BC. This requires partnership A common services platform provides the base on which to construct, coordinate and expand all telehealth services A common services platform provides the base on which to construct, coordinate and expand all telehealth services Investments in connectivity and capitalization will ensure quality of service across all points of the network Investments in connectivity and capitalization will ensure quality of service across all points of the network Investments in capacity building will ensure people are ready, willing and able to make the most of telehealth opportunities Investments in capacity building will ensure people are ready, willing and able to make the most of telehealth opportunities Investments in continuous quality improvement will ensure the telehealth system is efficient and effective in meeting priority needs Investments in continuous quality improvement will ensure the telehealth system is efficient and effective in meeting priority needs

10. Projects Common Services BC Telehealth Reference Material BC Telehealth Reference Material BC Telehealth Communications Project BC Telehealth Communications Project BC Telehealth Scheduling Service Project BC Telehealth Scheduling Service Project Telehealth Network Infrastructure Readiness Audit Telehealth Network Infrastructure Readiness Audit Connectivity and Capitalization Telehealth Assets Inventory Telehealth Assets Inventory FNTPP End Point Integration Test Bed FNTPP End Point Integration Test Bed

11. Projects Capacity Building Telehealth Migration Specialist – First Nations Telehealth Migration Specialist – First Nations Telehealth Migration Specialist – Health Authorities Telehealth Migration Specialist – Health Authorities First Nations Coordination for Telehealth Training and Health Education Programming First Nations Coordination for Telehealth Training and Health Education Programming First Nations Coordination of the Aboriginal Telehealth Planning Partnership Table First Nations Coordination of the Aboriginal Telehealth Planning Partnership Table Clinical Engagement Initiative Clinical Engagement Initiative Clinical Program Development Fund Clinical Program Development Fund

12. Projects Continuous Improvement Development of Measurement Framework and Capacity with First Nations Partners and Health Authorities Development of Measurement Framework and Capacity with First Nations Partners and Health Authorities Telehealth Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilisation Fund Telehealth Evaluation and Knowledge Mobilisation Fund First Nations Coordination for Continuous Improvement First Nations Coordination for Continuous Improvement

13. Conclusion Opportunity to reach out to all communities with a system that will ensure access to health and health care services and provide the network backbone for many other initiatives.

14. I welcome your questions and comments.