Northwestern
Ontario (Canada) has a total population of approximately 250,000 residents. With a geographical region the size of France, the
challenges of geography and climate, at a glance, seem insurmountable. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) Telemedicine
Program is a major link in overcoming these challenges.
TBRHSC Telemedicine is one of the busiest Telemedicine sites
in Canada. Last year, TBRHSC Telemedicine used secure connections
and 25 video conference systems to support more than 8,600
events. The vast majority of these events were clinical consultations.
More than 400 consultants representing 82 specialties/sub-specialties
offered service to the residents of Northwestern Ontario using
videoconferencing technology.
The level of sophistication of this technology is truly amazing.
For example, a clinician can place a stethoscope on your chest
in Thunder Bay and the heartbeat and breath sounds are heard
by a cardiologist in Ottawa.
Telemedicine
at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is truly a
world class service. In 2011, our program met or exceeded
all Accreditation Canada’s 2010 standards for best practices
specific to a Telemedicine program. Additionally, Tele-visitation
was designated a “leading practice” by that same
survey team.
Currently, people living in Thunder Bay who access consultants in Eastern Ontario and out of province, are asking their doctors, “can
this consultation or follow-up happen by video?”. Increasingly the answer is YES! From this website your family physician can
access a roster of specialty services offered by TBRHSC consultants. Your local
health care provider must make this referral. Self referrals are not possible at this time. If you are presently seeing a specialist
from outside of Thunder Bay and require a follow-up appointment, ask them if this appointment can be arranged by video conference (telemedicine).
For Health Care Providers currently not offering video consultations
but interested in this alternative, a visit to the OTN
website can provide all the information necessary to get
started. The increased access to specialty services and the
decrease in time and expense involved in travel are the major
benefits of this growing technology.
What happens once my physician sends in the referral?
When a referral has been made by a physician, you will receive a call from an OTN/KOTN scheduler to confirm your appointment. If you
are attending an appointment at a TBRHSC studio, please refer to the directions below. You can also access directions to our department
via a Telemedicine brochure available at the Information Desk in the lobby.
Where to find us:
To find the Telemedicine Department, please use the maps below or follow these instructions:
Enter the Health Sciences Centre, using the Main Entrance
Follow the main corridor, past the Information Desk, Robin’s Donuts and Seasons Gift Shop
Proceed to Level 3 either using the Grand Staircase or the Elevator to your Right
Follow the corridor on Level 3, past the Library through the double doors
At the end of the corridor is a sign indicating to Turn Right to Telemedicine
The Telemedicine studio is located at the end of the Staff Education corridor
During a clinical appointment using Telemedicine you are welcome to bring family or a friend for support. We also offer a family
visitation option for in-patients who are separated from their families in more remote communities. It is possible to link multiple
communities simultaneously for family visitation or case conferences.
