Telehealth

“The objective of the Telehealth Adoption and Benefits Study was to inform Telehealth stakeholders, including funders of Telehealth programs, health system administrators, clinicians and patients, about the evidence of value of Telehealth activities in Canada. The study focused on the quality, access, and productivity benefits being achieved by these Telehealth activities. The benefits were assessed utilizing the Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) Benefits Evaluation Framework.”

“The benefits evaluation process employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Where it was possible, quantitative methods were used to calculate current benefits and to forecast/extrapolate potential future benefits. Qualitative methods of inquiry were used to gain an in-depth understanding of benefits experienced by users, and to give context and to help interpret the quantitative data.”

“The study found significant and growing utilization of Telehealth — the use of information and communication technologies to extend health care service delivery across distance — all over the country. (The study also found that) the utilization of this Telehealth infrastructure has resulted in a number of access, quality and productivity benefits…”