Canadian Healthcare Technology Logo
  • Issues
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Events
  • Vendors
  • About Us

Philips

AGFA 1400x150

Petal Health

Petal Health 1400x150

COVID-19

Island Health streamlines monitoring with online solution

August 19, 2020


Lisa SaffarekVICTORIA, BC – As more people began testing positive for COVID-19, the number of people who needed a daily check-in increased dramatically. The call volume quickly grew beyond the capacity of the communicable disease team, and additional support was needed.

“People were scared and needed reassurance, and they were also faced not only with ensuring their household was safe, but also with tracing all of the people they had been in contact with,” said Catharine Berghuis, clinical coordinator, West Shore and Sooke Public Health. “This is a new disease. No one knows what to expect, and our teams provided the best support they could at a time of intense need.”

Lisa Saffarek (pictured) leads virtual care efforts at Island Health and had previously helped establish remote monitoring service for patients who had chronic diseases that needed to be monitored at home. Saffarek brought her expertise in virtual monitoring to the public health portfolio to see how she could support their efforts.

“Island Health has a strong program in virtual care and well-established remote patient monitoring services,” said Saffarek. “I knew there could be an opportunity to bring our in-house expertise to support this unprecedented demand for virtual care.”

Saffarek and Berghuis built their program, COVID-19 Virtual Monitoring, using an existing provincial contract with TELUS Health to deliver remote patient monitoring. The teams worked to modify the symptom checklist into a survey that could be completed online.

People who were a known contact or tested positive for COVID-19 receive a web link to a unique survey, where they can enter their symptoms daily. If someone experiences a symptom, the survey generates an alert for the nurses. Public health nurses review the submitted data throughout the day, and reach out by phone if someone experiences worsening symptoms to provide support and refer to testing. When the monitoring period is completed, people receive an email as confirmation.

COVID-19 Virtual Monitoring was one of the options used to support people who are homeless and vulnerably housed and are diagnosed with COVID-19. When these people accept a sheltering option, they are provided a 3G-enabled tablet from TELUS to support them in monitoring their symptoms on a daily basis.

“As Canadian’s healthcare needs are becoming increasingly complex, and further exacerbated by a global pandemic, TELUS Health is committed to supporting our partner at Island Health to continue delivering quality care to patients in need by leveraging innovative technology such as our Home Health Monitoring solution,” said Heather Harps, director, home health monitoring, TELUS Health.

“Supporting patients remotely as they recover in the comfort of their own homes, not only allows clinicians to stay safe from possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus, but also allows them to effectively support a larger cohort of patients simultaneously while keeping them safe and fully connected to their care team, virtually.”

“This was a sea change in the way we had previously been doing our work,” said Berghuis. “Going forward, the way we are able to support people in their homes and in their communities will be more responsive. I am so thankful to our virtual care team and TELUS for their support in helping us reach more people and support their health and well-being.”

PreviousNext

CHT print

CHT print

e-Messenger

  • Carney appoints new health minister, AI chief
  • NS delays start of provincial EHR system
  • New associate CEO of CIUSSS-West-Central Montreal
  • Medic Alert bracelets will connect to EHRs
  • Mount Sinai deploys system for partial knee replacement
More from e-Messenger

Subscribe

Subscribe

Weekly blasts are sent each month, via e-mail, to over 7,000 senior managers and executives in hospitals, clinics and health regions. Learn More

Infoway

Infoway

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Zebra

Advertise with us

Advertise with us

Sectra KLAS

Sectra KLAS

Stratford Group

Stratford Group

Pure Storage

Pure Storage

Medirex

Medirex

NIHI

NIHI

CHT print

CHT print

Advertise with us

Advertise with us

Sectra KLAS

Sectra KLAS

Stratford Group

Stratford Group

Pure Storage

Pure Storage

Medirex

Medirex

NIHI

NIHI

Contact Us

Canadian Healthcare Technology
1118 Centre Street, Suite 204
Thornhill, Ontario, Canada L4J 7R9
Tel: 905-709-2330
Fax: 905-709-2258
info2@canhealth.com

  • Quick Links
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
    • Events
    • Vendors
    • About Us
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Writers’ Guidelines
    • Privacy Policy
  • Topics
    • Administrative Solutions
    • Clinical Solutions
    • Companies
    • Continuing Care
    • Diagnostics
    • Education & Training
  •  
    • Electronic Records
    • Government & Policy
    • Infrastructure
    • Innovation
    • People
    • Privacy and Security

© 2025 Canadian Healthcare Technology

The content of Canadian Healthcare Technology is subject to copyright. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission is strictly prohibited. Send all requests for permission to Jerry Zeidenberg, Publisher.

Search Site

Error: Enter a search term

  • Issues
    • Current Print Issue
    • Print Archive
  • Advertise
    • Publishing Schedule
    • Circulation
    • Unit Sizes and Rates
    • Mechanical Requirements
    • Electronic Advertising
    • White Papers
  • Subscribe
    • Print Edition
    • e-Messenger
    • White Papers
  • Events
  • Vendors
  • About Us