By Eric Fung
On Thu., May 23, the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine will launch the “Telehealth and e-Health Program,” the first of its kind in Canada.
Telehealth, providing health services through telecommunications, is gaining popularity for its ability to reach isolated areas. Along with e-Health, the on-line counterpart, Telehealth may play an important role in the future of health care.
The new facility in the Health Sciences Centre features state-of-the-art equipment, such as videophones and wireless technology and will study the feasibility and effectiveness of Telehealth. While much of this study will focus on direct patient treatment, others may also benefit. For example, physician education can be conducted on-line with interactive tools.