Collingwood General and Marine Hospital has been chosen as one of six hospitals across the province to participate in a new SickKids pilot project that will see the hospital be able to collaborate with the Toronto hospital visually, virtually, in real time.
Currently, clinicians across Ontario obtain recommendations and advice for patient care from SickKids’ critical care teams, which include neonatal, pediatric and cardiac intensive care units, using a secure telephone connection.
This means that decisions and recommendations are typically based on verbal descriptions of the patient.
The virtual critical care consulting network pilot project will mean secure video will be added, so that the critical care team members at SickKids can see the patient.
“There is considerable value in seeing a critically ill newborn or child with our own eyes. Being able to see the child may help us give more tailored and effective advice on management which may allow for these children to improve more quickly,” said Dr. Elaine Gilfoyle of the pediatric intensive care unit at SickKids, in a news release.
Funding for the project was raised through the CGMH Foundation’s newly formed Young Professionals Committee, who raised $22,000 for the equipment through their In This Together fundraiser back in May.
“We are pleased to be one of six hospitals to collaborate with SickKids on this pilot project. The project is now live at CGMH, we are ready to utilize the technology as the need arises,” said Lauren Tindall, vice president of patient experience at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to support patient care with partner hospitals. This is an innovation in healthcare that we are pleased to be a part of,” she said.
