In BC, all but two specialities now have a fee code for telehealth service. The Specialist Services Committee has funded three telehealth projects under the Quality and Innovation Initiatives. One project is linking plastic surgeon Dr. Tony Papp, who heads complex wound and burn care in Vancouver Coastal Health, to patients in Bella Bella and Power River. Equipment for the link up has been placed directly in Dr. Papp's office, removing the need for him to alter his office hours for patient visits and be in another location. He can work the telehealth consult into his regular day. When the time comes the patient, instead of being in an examining room down the hall, is on his monitor in the remote location.
"It is super easy. I sit in my office, I turn on the device, and there they are," says Papp. He is assisted by wound care nurses or GPs at the remote site, who round out the team.
It is easy, and cost effective, for patients, too. So far about a dozen have been seen, all with good result. In fact, three patients, who had non-healing wounds for more than two years, had the wounds finally close after their telehealth visit. Read more SSC Focus News stories.
