A new digital stethoscope being used at several AHS facilities allows Edmonton cardiac specialists to examine patients in northern Alberta communities.
Patients can now talk “face to face” with Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute doctors as a digital stethoscope streams heart and lung sounds through a secure and confidential video link.
“Stethoscopes may well be the most important tool a cardiologist uses to assess the heart health of a patient. If we can hear the heart and lungs, we can usually determine if a patient needs immediate care,” said Dr. Lucille Lalonde, a cardiologist at the Mazankowski.
Lalonde said the technology will allow doctors to perform this critical exam in a timely manner, even if a patient lives hundreds of kilometres away.
“We don’t have to wait for patients to come to us and, if we like what we hear through the digital stethoscope, we can prevent patients from making unnecessary trips to the city,” Lalonde said.
The technology is currently being used in Drayton Valley, Wetaskiwin, Edson and High Level and will be introduced shortly in Fort McMurray.
Between six and 10 satellite patients are examined every month by Masankowski Institute cardiologists using the new technology, which has become fully integrated into clinical practice over the past 12 months. Staff at AHS facilities in smaller communities require additional training before using the technology.
Alberta Health Services announced Friday that more than 3,200 additional cataract surgeries will be performed in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Grande Prairie between now and March 31 to help reduce wait times for the procedure.
“With predictable five-year funding for health care, we continue to add more surgeries to reduce wait times for high-priority procedures,” said Zwozdesky, in a press release.
Some 30,000 cataract surgeries will be performed throughout the province this year, according to Alberta Health Services.
The additional procedures will be performed at AHS hospitals and also at accredited non-hospital surgical facilities.
In Calgary, about 1,550 cataract surgeries will be added; in Edmonton, an additional 1,500 cataract surgeries will be done; Lethbridge will add some 60 surgeries and Grande Prairie will add an additional 120.
“Adding surgical capacity in high-demand areas is a key priority for AHS,” said Dr. Chris Eagle, acting president and chief executive officer, in a press release. “These additional procedures will enable more Albertans to have their cataract surgeries done in a timely manner.”
In addition to Edmonton and Calgary, cataract and other ophthalmology procedures are performed in 13 other facilities around the province.
The cost of the additional cataract surgeries is about $1.6 million and will be covered by Alberta Health Services’ existing operating budget.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced last week that it is currently testing three new technologies to provide increased safety for senior citizens living on their own.
AHS Home Care is currently using wander management systems, personal emergency response programs that detect falls and alert caregivers, and medication management systems that provide reminders to help home care clients maintain their independence.
AHS is testing these technologies on seniors in the Grande Prairie and Medicine Hat areas.
The two-year, $1.9-million pilot project is part of the province’s five-year health action plan.
“Safety of an aging parent or family member is always a concern,” said Gene Zwozdesky, minister of health and wellness, in a statement last week.
“These technologies are designed to provide seniors with more dignity and independence, while reducing stress on their caregivers,” Zwozdesky said.
David O’Brien, vice-president seniors health for AHS, said seniors prefer to remain in their homes for as long as possible.
“This pilot project is an excellent opportunity for us to work in partnership with government, vendors, clients and their families to test unique strategies that provide a new way to support seniors safely at home,” he said.
AHS will evaluate the pilot programs over the next year and will be introducing them throughout the province within the next two to three years.
