Examples of telemedicine projects in both countries
| NAME OF PROGRAM | TELEMEDICINE MODELS | COUNTRY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champlain BASE | Teleconferencing and teleconsultation | Canada (Ontario) | Contains a Web-based portal that connects primary care providers (family physicians and nurse practitioners) and specialist physicians to enable the exchange of information (eg, physician notes, test results, images) regarding patient cases |
| OTN | Teleconferencing | Canada (Ontario) | OTN organizes both e-visits and e-care. In an e-visit, physicians and patients or other physicians can engage in real-time video visits via personal computer, cellular device, or conferencing rooms in health organizations. In e-care, apps and other devices are used to monitor patients and coach them to manage their conditions at home |
| Interior Health Authority of British Columbia | Telediagnosis and self-management | Canada (British Columbia) | Patients can access videoconferencing services at their nearest medical centre to connect to specialists across the province. Specialists in other centres use imaging, electronic stethoscopes, and electronic medical records to examine the patient. The Interior Health Authority also offers a telehomecare monitoring program that allows patients with congestive heart failure to monitor and self-manage their conditions |
| Canada Health Infoway | Teleconferencing | Canada (British Columbia) | Offers in-practice and virtual clinic visits in an online setting. In-practice visits occur between primary care physicians and patients they already know. Virtual clinic visits involve new patients |
| RACE | Teleconsultation | Canada (British Columbia and Yukon) | Through this service, physicians can call one telephone number to access various specialists who can provide real-time advice. The service is available during business hours to all primary care providers in British Columbia and Yukon |
| Teleconsultation hot-line | Teleconsultation | Brazil (all-country: 26 states and 1 federal district) | Used to clarify questions (clinical and administrative) in real time. Available to all primary health care doctors and other health professionals in Brazil |
| National Telehealth Platform | Teleconsultation | Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) | Service for primary care professionals to clarify questions (clinical and administrative) with another provider. Inquiries are answered by text within 72 h |
| RegulaSUS (Ambulatory Regulation Service) | Teleconsultation | Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) | Organization of outpatient access to specialized services through the creation of referral protocols, classification of clinical priorities, and discussion in real time of clinical cases of patients on the waiting list |
| TelessaúdeRS-UFRGS (respiratory, ophthalmology, dermatology, stomatology) | Telediagnosis | Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) | Allows the interpretation of clinical investigations through a digital platform. This includes the following:
|
BASE—Building Access to Specialists through eConsultation, OTN—Ontario Telemedicine Network, RACE—Rapid Access to Consultative Expertise, UFRGS—Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.