Keewaytinook Okimakanak Telehealth (KOTH) is a scheduling and administration centre for the delivery of comprehensive Telehealth services to 12 remote First Nations communities in the Sioux Lookout Health Zone.  KOTH is supported by the Kuh-Ke-Nah Broadband Network (K-Net).  K-Net staff work with First Nations to enable the First Nation communities to control the ownership of their terrestrial or satellite broad band networks.  Learn more about K-Net by visiting their website at www.knet.ca. 

Funding secured through the leadership of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council (KOTC), supports the expansion of Telehealth into all 24 First Nations Health Centers within the Sioux Lookout Health Zone.  Currently on a monthly basis KOTH coordinates and schedules over 50 clinical consults, 20 training sessions and 20 education sessions geared to health care providers in the First Nations communities as well as regular diabetes education.  KOTH partners with NORTH network, Ontario's largest Telehealth network.  This partnership provides access to over 70 specialists, with dermatology, geriatrics, psychiatry, and general physician care being the most common specialties accessed.

KOTH identified a need to broaden its service model to address the full scope of health services among First Nations.  This function is supported by the services migration coordinator at the Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA).  The services migration coordinator is tasked with coordinating and introducing access to SLFNHA programming and identifies additional existing programming that support First Nations Health and Wellness.  The services migration sub project aims to document non-clinical services integration priorities and partnership opportunities. 

PROGRAM GOALS

• Develop a community based model for the delivery of Telehealth to First Nations Communities.
• Enhance services coordination
• Increased Access to Health Care Services
• Provision of culturally appropriate health services
• Improve overall health of First Nations population
• Integrate Telehealth into everyday health care delivery

BENEFITS OF TELEHEALTH

• Improve Access to mental health services
• Training and support for community health workers
• Early diagnosis and treatment for children
• Promotion of health careers within the community
• Provision of health promotion and prevention education
• Case conferencing, family visit, community involvement opportunities for hospitalized clients.
• Retention of doctors and nurses through support, decreases isolation and provision of educational opportunities
• Decreased travel risks for clients

For more information, please visit their webpage at www.telehealth.knet.ca and visit our Bulletin Board at SLFNHA