An e-health model for rural communities

Abstract

The health status of people in rural and remote areas, particularly in the First Nation communities of Ontario, has been reported to be poorer compared to the urban population. Health care in rural and remote Ontario has primarily relied on the effort of community nurses, often in the absence of trained medical personnel. There is an urgent need to educate these communities about active lifestyle, proper nutrition and means to detect onset of illness early enough to take timely intervention. The demographical distribution of rural communities in the North together with an alarming shortage of physicians in this region poses a serious challenge to the timely and effective delivery of quality medical care. Telehealth could be the solution to improving health conditions in rural and remote areas by providing better access to specialist care. © 2009 IADIS.