Telehealth decreases the distance barrier for nursing education

SRNA Newsbulletin, Oct/Nov 2003 by Kozakewycz, Diane

Health care reform has thrown us into a constant state of change where it seems you barely have time to catch your breath between announcements of how "something" will provide better care to the people of our province. In order to provide the high quality health care we so greatly value, we find ourselves in a dilemma. How exactly will we get the ongoing education necessary to meet the expectations for quality, evidence based, care? Increased demands on time, both personally and professionally, staffing issues, and budget constraints, all add to the challenge of obtaining quality continuing education. Telehealth technology is one way to provide efficient, cost effective, education to audiences over large geographic distances. Providing there are existing infrastructures, human and financial resources, the basic videoconference unit can be installed in virtually any location.

In our province, health related educational opportunities are provided through the Telehealth Saskatchewan Network. This Network currently links communities in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, La Ronge, Ile a la Crosse, North Battleford, Nipawin, Meadow Lake, Kindersley, Regina, and two Nursing Stations - Pinehouse Lake and Beauval. New sites in Moose Jaw, Swift Current, Yorkton, and Weyburn will be operational later this fall. Regularly scheduled teaching rounds are offered to all health care professionals in and around these sites. Special interest sessions are also provided if a need or request has been identified by a health professional, public interest group, or a health partner. A few examples of nursing-specific educational events that have been offered to communities across Saskatchewan include a recent presentation by Donna Brunskill on 'Nursing Leadership'; patient-specific information on 'Tracheostomy Care' and 'PICC Lines'; information on 'chemotherapy and cancer care' and 'charting' to name a few. Nurses can benefit greatly from the various telehealth educational offerings for health care professionals. There have also been numerous public presentations on a wide variety of topics.

If you would like more information on Telehealth Saskatchewan Educational Opportunities, please contact Karen Levesque, Network Operations Manager, Telehealth Saskatchewan at (306) 655-1505.

by Diane Kozakewycz RN, Telehealth Business Analyst, Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region