IIU Telehealth Network (Nunavut)
A number of Digital Telehealth Inc.’s consultants were contracted as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to give advice on how to design and implement a Territory-wide telehealth network in Nunavut. An important reason for this project's award-winning success was because the SMEs were brought in from the very beginning. Deliverables included: strategic planning, needs assessment, recommendations regarding workstations and telecommunications networks, RFP writing, technology implementation, education and training, policy and procedure development.

The IIU Telehealth Network is a state-of-the-art satellite, IP-based telecommunications network. High-end videoconferencing workstations (with store and forward capabilities) with peripheral devices were installed in every community. All 25 communities in the Territory are able to connect to the network and through a telecommunications bridge in Yellowknife are linked to five referrals centres in Southern Canada.

This project was extensive and occurred over a period of more than three years. In 2003, the project was a CIPA Award Finalist as well as the recipient of the CATA Alliance National Award for Emerging Technology. In 2004, this project received both the Canadian Society of Telehealth's Digital Award of Excellence and the Canadian Information Productivity Award (CIPA) in the Mobile Solutions category.

WestNet Tele-ophthalmology Project (Northwest Territories)
Digital Telehealth Inc. partnered with Network Pro to provide advice on the implementation and evaluation of the WestNet Tele-ophthalmology project. The project involved eye technicians traveling to small communities to conduct eye exams and capture digital retinal images from diabetic patients. The images were then sent to retinal specialists for a diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Patients and health professionals were satisfied with the process. The project resulted in decreased patient travel and overall costs for the NWT Government.

Labrador Telemedicine Project (Goose Bay and Black Tickle, Newfoundland and Labrador)
Dr. Rod Elford was the Co-principal Investigator / Special Advisor on this project. He provided advice on how to set-up and evaluate general consultations services from a nursing station in a remote community to a regional hospital in Goose Bay, Labrador. Equipment used includes a store and forward telemedicine system and peripheral devices. The telecommunications link is over a single dial-up telephone line.

Child Telepsychiatry – Phase 1 (Newfoundand and Labrador)
Dr. Rod Elford was the Principal Investigator for a randomized, single blind, controlled study comparing initial child psychiatric assessments conducted using a videoconferencing system to face-to-face assessments. Equipment used was a PC-based videoconferencing unit. The telecommunications link was dial up, digital telephone lines (336 kbps). Conclusions from the study include: child psychiatric assessments can be conducted using a PC-based videoconferencing system, telehealth and face-to-face consultations make the same diagnosis and treatment recommendations 96% of the time, psychiatrists preferred to conduct child psychiatric assessments face-to-face but stated that videoconferencing assessments were an 'acceptable alternative' to face-to-face assessments, the majority of children and adolescents 'liked' using the videoconferencing system, the majority of parents preferred to have their children assessed face-to-face, but stated that they would use the videoconferencing system again and would choose to use the system instead of traveling a long distance.

Hibernia (Offshore Oil Platform, Newfoundland and Labrador)
Dr. Rod Elford assisted in the system design and equipment selection of an offshore telemedicine system. The purpose of the system is to provide telemedicine services from an offshore oil platform to the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Equipment includes a videoconferencing system, a store and forward telemedicine system and peripheral devices. The telecommunications link is a combination of satellite and dedicated land lines (64 - 128 kbps).

Telehospice Pilot Project (West Prince Health Region, Prince Edward Island)
Digital Telehealth Inc. was contracted to provide advice on the equipment selection, design, implementation and evaluation of the use of telehome care technology for palliative care patients in the West Prince Health Region of Prince Edward Island.

This project was awarded the Gold Medal for a federally sponsored telehealth project in 2000.

Business Case for Telegeriatrics (Calgary Health Region, Alberta)
We were contracted to review the current situation in Calgary and to determine if there was a business case to developing telegeriatric telehealth activities in the region.

Telehealth Business Plan (Chinook Health Region, Alberta)
Digital Telehealth Inc. developed the Chinook Health Region's Telehealth Business Plan to obtain the required funding for the telehealth technology required to run their planned telehealth programs.

The Public Hospitals Authority (Nassau, The Bahamas)
Digital Telehealth Inc. is currently assisting the Public Hospitals Authority of the Bahamas in four broad sets of activities associated with developing an Automation Enhancement Initiative: Clinical and Support Services (AEICS). Digital Telehealth Inc. has been contracted to provide technical assistance to the Public Hospitals Authority to undertake a needs assessment, formulate specific requests for proposals and evaluate the responses to each request for proposal in respect to: Materials Management Information; Pharmacy Management Information; and Medical Records and Diagnostic Image Management Information. By the conclusion of this project these new applications will be selected for deployment across the three primary care public hospitals in the Bahamas.

BOTEC - Botswana Technology Centre (Gabarone, Botswana)
The Botswana Technology Centre was given the mandate to conduct a Feasibility Study aimed at establishing the viability of telemedicine in the country of Botswana, Africa. Dr. Rod Elford was contracted by BOTEC, with support from the Ministries of Health and Local Government, to review the situation in Botswana and give his recommendations. The report recommended a two-prong approach to the implementation of telehealth in Botswana. This included addressing a number of issues that will facilitate the long-term sustainability of telemedicine as well as designing and implementing a needs based pilot project.

International Mars Mission (International Space University, Toulouse, France)
This was an International Space University (ISU) Summer School design project resulting in a report funded by NASA, CSA, Immarsat. Dr. Rod Elford was a contributing author to the report, and led the section dealing with countermeasures to the physiological effects of microgravity on the human body.

Expo 2000 (Hanover, Germany)
Digital Telehealth Inc. was asked by the Government of Canada to represent the Canadian telehealth industry at the World’s Fair / Expo 2000. Our exhibit showcased the potentials of telehomecare through demonstrations of the technology.
More info.

Global Access Telehealth and Education System (International Space University, Barcelona, Spain)
This was an International Space University (ISU) Summer School design project resulting in a report. Dr. Rod Elford acted as Special Project Assistant to supervise the research and design of a global system that can be used for telehealth and tele-education, particularly for the developing world.

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