Pemberton Valley Telehealth Project

Cheryl Rivard Brian Bootsman

Presentation Overview

• What We Were Trying to Accomplish

• What We Implemented

• Lessons Learned

• Moving Forward

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Integrated Primary & Community Care

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The IPCC Aboriginal / First Nations

Initiative by VCH How we are supporting the development of an effective primary & public health system with

and for First Nations

VCH Pemberton Valley Project

Pemberton Valley Lake Road

Community Knowledge

• One of the 1860 Cariboo Gold Rush trails

• Estimated 30,000 miners walked through the valley

• All 3 communities considered part of the Southern Stl’atl’imx Health Society

• Dr. Coward flies in once a week for clinical visits

• No telephone or cellular service

Background • Dr. Jel Coward wanted a quick, simple solution to

communicate with 3 remote ‘fly in’ villages

• Power to the communities just 3 years ago

• 3.5 hour drive on gravel road to reach medical attention (on good days)

• On the other side of the mountain is ‘Whistler’

Technical Background • 2 of the sites connect by satellite to the internet

• 1 site connects by radio shot down Harrison Lake.

• Connectivity greatly affected by weather

• All traffic on the public internet

Skatin Population < 70

- Church of the Holy Cross -Built 1895-1905 -National Historic Site

Skatin Medical office

Medical Office Network

Technology Desire • Easy to operate

• Simple to fix remotely

• Dependable

Solution

Tipella Taxi

So what happened….. • 30 calls

• Reasons for using

– Confirming treatment

– Booking medical appoints

– Connecting CHW between the communities

Looking forward Expansion of units use:

• Delivery of health services

• Emergency Services

• Connection of family during crisis

• Education

• Upgraded infrastructure to support more Telehealth

Thank you

• Southern Stl’Atl’lmx Health Society

• Mt. Currie Health Centre

• Pemberton Health Centre

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