November 2016 - Aetonix

5 Unexpected Benefits of Using Videoconferencing for Telehealth

We all know telehealth is convenient. It’s a well-established fact that the right communication technologies can reduce travel and wait times for patients. We also know that telehealth brings crucial services to areas where they otherwise wouldn’t be available. By connecting patients and doctors long distance, the right electronic tools improve access to care in remote and rural regions. These

The Key to Better Complex Care? Improved Care-Plan Sharing

Coordinating care for patients has never been more difficult. And unless things change, this task will only get harder in the years ahead. If you work in health care, you’ve seen the trends. You know that chronic disease rates are growing (by a whopping 14% each year), along with the demand for services in the community. You’re also aware that now, more

Helping Long-Distance Patients Live Well With Remote Care

Patients who live outside of cities don’t always receive the best quality of care. And sometimes it may seem that delivering positive health outcomes just isn’t possible. For urban doctors with patients in remote areas, recognizing this inequality can be difficult – even heartbreaking. Many wish they could do more to help, but geography gets in the way. Luckily, there

Reducing Hospital Readmissions in Canada- Are Penalties for Hospitals the Right Answer?

Since 2012, American hospitals with high readmission rates have faced serious financial penalties. These penalties are part of a controversial initiative called the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP). Here in Canada, unplanned hospital readmissions, especially those tied to chronic diseases are a serious problem. These events can be extremely costly and have negative health implications for patients, making them a

Overhauling Home Care Means Doing More With Less. Here’s How.

Home care is worth getting excited about. It’s cost effective. It’s in line with patient preferences. And it has the potential to provide appropriate support for many chronically-ill patients. For these reasons, many see home and community care as the ultimate solution to Canada’s healthcare problems. And yet, Ontario – a province that has wholeheartedly embraced this solution – has struggled with

5 Reasons Health Care Teams Should Revisit Telemedicine

Telemedicine has been around for decades. But in the last few years, it’s seen a major surge of interest. Should health care providers embrace this resurrected trend, and how much value can they expect if they do? Now, more than ever before, patients are looking to receive health information in real time. We’re used to the convenience of the web,

5 Misconceptions About Long Term Care Homes

Long-term care (LTC) homes, commonly known as ‘nursing homes’ have long been subjected to negative stereotypes. And that’s understandable given the sometimes troubling stories shown in the news. Of course, abuse and neglect are the exception, not the rule within these facilities. If you operate or work in one of these care homes, you’re aware that they’re often characterized by

How Technology Can Prevent Canada’s Looming Health Care Crisis

We’ve heard it many times before. Canada is headed for a health care crisis. Our system isn’t sustainable. Our aging population will bankrupt us. These ideas can make for compelling news stories, but they are perhaps a tad dramatic. Health care leaders and practitioners know that the factors impacting expenditures in the sector are complex. Distilling them into soundbites does

In Home Care, How Risky is Digitally Sharing Health Information?

We live in an age when nearly every medical and caregiving professional has a smartphone or tablet. These mobile devices can be extremely useful on the job – especially in home care. But when it comes to sharing health information, providers should be wary. Canadians have already seen privacy breaches involving electronic medical records. And sadly, there have been numerous cases of