Investing in Technology Improves Access to Care
Improving access to care.
That’s why the North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) invested $353,971 into telemedicine – to improve access to quality health care for the people of Northwestern Ontario.
Fourteen organizations across the region will use the money to buy new telemedicine equipment or replace old equipment.
The North West LHIN’s investment in technology means more residents will be able to receive care as close to home as possible with modernized and up-to-date equipment.
It also means more supports in the community for seniors, fewer visits to the Emergency Department and less travel time for patients from the north.
First introduced to northern Ontario in 1998, telemedicine:
- Improves access to health care across the region
- Reduces waiting times to see a doctor or specialist
- Eliminates costly and time-consuming long distance travel
The North West LHIN acknowledges the critical role played by the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) in facilitating more effective and efficient delivery of health care services to the region.
QUICK FACTS:
- Last year, the use of telemedicine in the North West LHIN resulted in more than $9 million in avoided travel costs, and more than 23 million kilometres in avoided patient travel.
- There are 121 active OTN sites and 187 active systems in the Northwest, representing 12 percent and 9 percent respectively of the entire Network.
- Last year, Northwestern Ontario hosted 22,075 clinical events on the Network.
LEARN MORE:
For more information on the Ontario Telemedicine Network, please go to: www.otn.ca
The North West LHIN is responsible for planning, integrating and funding local health services – hospitals, long term care facilities, the community care access centre, community health centres, community support services and mental health and addictions agencies. The North West LHIN and its Board of Directors are responsible for over $560 million of health care services delivered in Northwestern Ontario.
