eHealth

You can see a Dermatologist to have any skin condition looked including and screened for cancer or have eye exams done and sent to an eye specialist. We are currently in the process of adding one more community and we are always open to helping more First Nations in Ontario. The regional telemedicine program covers many First Nation communities across Ontario including Southern Ontario and as far North as Fort Severn First Nation. There are currently 48 First Nation Communities enrolled in the Regional Telemedicine Program.

Virtual Emergency Services (VES) provides community nurses and physicians in remote Sioux Lookout zone nursing stations with access to:

• Community Physician or MD on call.
• ORNGE Transport Medicine physicians.
• RCCR – Intensivist-led ICU Program (TBRHSC).

For consultative support, treatment, patient transport advice and stabilization for clients with acute medical needs. The program is available in 17 Nursing stations in Sioux Lookout Zone. This includes Deer Lake, Keewaywin, North spirit and Poplar Hill.

eHealth is managing the VES program providing project management, coordination, equipment procurement and service evaluation. In 2021-2022 FY, 97 community members received 163 urgent/emergent interventions. In 2021-2022, KOeTS delivered 748 Mock Calls to the sites enrolled in the program with an average of 44 calls per site. This Includes 145 staff orientation and training refreshers. The mock calls aim to provide training to any new nursing staff or refreshment training if requested. Also, quick equipment check is completed during the mock calls.

Physicians and Nurse Practitioners can consult with an Ontario board certified dermatologist, receiving timely advice for patients within an average of 3 days. The service is available on OTNhub at no cost to health care providers or patients and is part of Ontario’s publicly funded health care system. Nursing stations are equipped with a laptop, printer and desk.

How it works:

• With a digital camera, a photo is taken of the patient’s skin condition.
• Photo and patient information are uploaded to TeledermSF
• Dermatologist reviews the case and responds to the requesting provider.
• Requesting Provider implements the treatment plan.

• Enables diabetic patients to have a retinal screening done in their own community.
  • KO nurse takes a digital image of the patient’s eye
  • Images and patient information are securely uploaded to the Teleophthalmology service.
  • An ophthalmologist reviews the case and responds to the referring health care provider.
  • The referring health care provider coordinates any necessary follow-up care.
• Equipment
  • Visuscout 100 handheld fundus camera
  • Visuplan 500 non-contact tonometer
• A Nurse and Clinical Assistant travel to the communities with portable equipment and screen clients with diabetes for diabetic retinopathy. The small size and portability of the equipment allows the nurse to go to the patient’s home and conduct the screening if the patient is unable to ambulate to the clinic.
• eHealth Teleophthalmology program resumed in 2022. A Registered Nurse and a Registered Practice Nurse were hired on contract basis in July to resume services to KOeTS affiliated communities.
• In August 2022, the TOP team was set to travel to Fort Severn and complete retinal screenings for the community members. Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions, their plane was unable to land in Fort Severn and they had to cancel their trip.
• Between September 14-16, 2022, the TOP team traveled to Keewaywin.
• The team is in communication with Poplar Hill and Fort Seven to arrange community visits by the end of March 2023

The Managed Service Model (MSM) program was launched in 2017 in partnership with Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN) to provides access to timely and culturally safe health care services to First Nations communities throughout Ontario. MSM provides entry level Telemedicine. Connections are scheduled through email-to-email invitation on the OTN platform. As of January 1, 2025, there are 53 sites enrolled in the program across the province. The program is run by the Regional Telemedicine Navigator, Wendy Sandberg.  Highest utilization for the MSM program is Mental Health Counselling Services. MSM is implemented in KO Schools in Deer Lake, Fort Severn, Keewaywin, North spirit, and Poplar Hill. Each school received a GuestLink system (Desktop Computer). In May 2022, youth marketing materials were mailed to the schools. This includes posters and parent info cards to promote the program.