Province provides tele-rounding stats
A bridging mechanism while recruiting physicians
In the first two months since the launch of a pilot “tele-rounding” program at Western Hospital in August, 92 per cent of the hospital’s in-patients were seen by physicians who were checking in over a secure video connection, Health P.E.I. reports. Health Minister Robert Mitchell recently met with representatives of Maple, the Canadian telemedicine provider that is piloting the model in Alberton in response to a shortage in family physicians in the area.
Nine physicians who are licenced to practice on P.E.I. and affiliated with Maple, are seeing in-patients who do not have a family physician.
Health P.E.I. says more than 1,200 tele-rounding consults have been performed on nearly 60 in-patients since August.
Maple CEO and emergency room physician, Dr. Brett Belchetz notes that about 50 per cent of general practitioners and specialists across Canada don’t work full-time year-round.
“By investing in novel technologies like that developed for Western Hospital, we’re able to tap into those available physician hours and redistribute them to communities where it’s needed.”
Dr. André Celliers, Health P.E.I. executive director of medical affairs notes tele-rounding is not intended to permanently replace the on-site role of physicians, but he said it has been an excellent bridging resource to support in-patient care.
Since the pilot program’s launch, Health P.E.I. has recruited two physicians to West Prince, one scheduled to start in O’Leary early in the new year and one due to arrive in Alberton by spring. “We are committed to ensuring residents of West Prince have local access to safe and sustainable health care,” Minister Mitchell insisted. “By integrating new and modern technology into in-patient care, we are enhancing collaboration, reinforcing the creativity of entrepreneurs, making better use of existing resources, and building an environment where innovation can thrive. These new innovations do not replace physicians but are an added resource to support our health professionals and our patients.”