Aboriginal Telemedicine

While the majority of the province can rapidly access primary care, specialists, or urgent care, many First Nations are living on-reserve in remote communities, including fly-in communities, and do not always have direct access to care.

OTN has formed positive relationships with First Nations communities and partner organizations, such as KOeHealth Telemedicine Services and the Chiefs of Ontario. OTN works with communities and partner organizations to identify how Telemedicine can help connect them to health care partners. Telemedicine is utilized in both on-reserve communities as well as aboriginal points of care.

Benefits of Telemedicine in Aboriginal Care

Improve access to primary care
Decrease wait times for specialists
Increase access to urgent care
Early intervention

Teleophthalmology eye exam

Aboriginal Telemedicine in Ontario

Aboriginal Health Access Centres
First Nation (on-reserve) communities are telemedicine-enabled
- First Nations communities on OTN
- KOeHealth telemedicine communities (majority are fly in)
Metis Nation of Ontario sites
Numerous Aboriginal points of care

In 2013/14 thirty new Telemedicine systems were deployed to First Nation on-reserve communities to support programs that aid in withdrawal management of opioid based substances.

Partnerships

Partnerships are a central component to the success of adoption of telemedicine in Aboriginal communities. Partnerships include: KOeHealth, Chiefs of Ontario, TFNHSOC, and Metis Nation of Ontario.