Integrating telehealth into Aboriginal healthcare: The Canadian experience
Open accessAbstract
Telehealth, the use of information communication technologies to deliver health care over distance, has been identified as a key mechanism for improving access to health services internationally. Canada is well suited to realize the benefits of telehealth particularly for individuals in remote, rural and isolated locations, many of whom are of Aboriginal descent. The health status of Canada's Aboriginal population is generally lower than that of the non-Aboriginal population emphasizing the need for new health care solutions. The challenges associated with implementing telehealth are not unique to Aboriginal settings but, in many instances, are more pronounced as a result of cultural, political and jurisdictional issues. These challenges are not insurmountable however, and there have been a number of successes in Canada to serve as a blueprint for a national strategy for sustainable Aboriginal telehealth. This review will highlight challenges and successes related to telehealth implementation in Canadian Aboriginal communities including: geography, technical infrastructure, human resources, cross-jurisdictional services, and community readiness. The need for champions within government, community and health care settings and the use of a needs-driven and integrated approach to implementation are highlighted. Several Canadian examples are provided including lessons learned within the MBTelehealth Network.
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Tele-medicine is an effective means to provide health care to remote village populations in countries outside Australia, with positive results demonstrated in Canada, Chile, and Alaska, USA.
“This notion is further supported by international research that found tele-medicine to be an effective means to provide health care to remote village populations in countries and outside Australia. Positive results have been demonstrated in Canada, Chile, and Alaska, USA among others (Gatica et al., 2015, Muttitt et al., 2004, Smith and Ferguson, 2004).”
From Patient and practitioner satisfaction with tele-dermatology including Australia’s indigenous population: A systematic review of the literature (2016) · cites this paper as Muttitt et al., 2004
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- Authors
- Muttitt, S., Vigneault, R., & Loewen, L.
- Affiliations
- Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (CA)
- SIS Business Alliance, Kanata, Ontario, Canada
- Corresponding author
- Muttitt, Sarah
- Venue
- International Journal of Circumpolar Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2004-12
- Volume
- 63
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 401-414
- ISSN
- 1239-9736 (ISSN-L)
- 2242-3982
- OpenAlex
- W1996714620
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 18
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 2.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- International Journal of Circumpolar Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Telemedicine and Telehealth Implementation
- Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Global Health Workforce Issues
- Keywords
- telemedicine, Aboriginal health, Indigenous health, technological infrastructure, healthcare workers, community preparedness, health policy, Canada
- MeSH terms
- Inuit, Health Services, Indigenous, Humans, Indians, North American, Manitoba, Medically Underserved Area, National Health Programs, Program Evaluation, Telemedicine, Total Quality Management, Delivery of Health Care, Integrated, Remote Consultation, Needs Assessment
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