Canada: Land of refuge

Photos Credits: Citynews.ca

Conjoined twins: Tinashe and Tinotenda

The ability to provide health care services at a distance has many benefits as it provides increased access to medical specialty consultations, condensed turn-around time of the medical review process and reduced travel time and cost for patients and their families. Information technology is used to sustain development and enhance expertise in the health and welfare of children throughout the world.

SickKids' motto is: "Healthier Children. A Better World." Its vision is to be a global force in maintaining good health in children and youths around the world. The University of the West Indies (UWI) and Trinidad's Ministry of Health identified a need for accessible quality pediatric care, treatment, research and teaching; so they teamed up with SickKids to participate in "Inter-professional Rounds," "Nursing Grand Rounds," and "Cardiology Rounds" on a regular basis. Similar connection also exists with The Great Ormond Street Hospital in the United Kingdom.

SickKids champions the cause of successful international telemedicine projects, which involves the integration of technology, medicine, social systems and culture. By transcending geographical barriers we are putting the best medicine has to offer within everyone's reach.

Through the Herbie Fund, appropriate post-operative and ongoing care are available in the patients' home country throughout the duration of their treatment; accommodation and interpreter services, necessary to provide treatment between the health-care provider and the patients/families who do not share common language are provided for those who have to come to Canada, the land of refuge for even medical patients.

Posted by Land of refuge at 12:30 PM Comments