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Jennifer Andrews



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  • OS09 - Optimizing Clinical Processes Using Telehealth (ID 9)

    • Event: e-Health 2017 Virtual Meeting
    • Type: Oral Session
    • Track: Clinical
    • Presentations: 1
    • Coordinates: 6/05/2017, 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM, Room 206AB

    • OS09.01 - Serving Patients Better: Technologies in the SickKids Pre-Anaesthesia Department (ID 261)

      Jennifer Andrews, Telemedicine, The Hospital for Sick Children; Toronto/CA

      • Abstract
      • Slides

      Purpose/Objectives: To demonstrate the effectiveness of the SickKids Pre-Anaesthesia Department’s use of telemedicine video conferencing technologies by presenting data which shows savings in internal and external costs,such as travel and time. The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), is a paediatric research and academic health center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that is dedicated to using innovative technology to improve the health of children in Canada.

      Methodology/Approach: The SickKids Pre-Anaesthesia department and Telemedicine departments have been collaborating to provide telemedicine services to Canadian patients for over four years. Factors that show the value of this program to the hospital and to the patients will be discussed/analysed, including travel times and costs associated with patients traveling into the hospital. Further to this, Pre Anaesthesia optimizes a GuestLink technology into the patient homes to assess their surgical factors prior to surgery at SickKids. The Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) facilitates the network and video conference tools which allow pre-Anaesthesia consultants to connect remotely with Ontario patients. We will demonstrate the tools which provide these services and how they have changed over time, and how equipment changes have enabled a more cost effective means to deliver this service.

      Finding/Results: Families were able to reduce costs, time spent away from work and school as well as eliminate excessive travel to Toronto prior to surgery. The Hospital for Sick Children has reduced equipment expenses and benefitted from the cost savings of reducing the number of patients coming into the hospital. The pre-Anaesthesia clinic has been able to employ technologies to pre-assess sick patients at home to determine eligibility for surgery and reduce the number of Operating Room cancellations.

      Conclusion/Implication/Recommendations: Pre-surgical assessments made via Telemedicine can meaningfully reduce the tangible and intangible costs of hospital visits for both patients and the hospital itself.

      140 Character Summary: The use of Telemedicine Technologies in the Pre-Anaesthesia Department at SickKids allows us to serve patients better.

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