Sasktel - Case Study

The purpose of this paper is to discuss how technology has impacted the health care delivery system. Health care technology is advancing at an increasingly rapid rate in the United States, and globally. Patients and providers are witnessing these changes through the use of telehealth, and telemedicine applications. Telehealth, and telemedicine are often used interchangeably, however there is a difference between the two applications. Telehealth is the use of technology to deliver health care, health information, or health education at a distance (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.).

Additional coverage may be offered for some specific groups such as children, senior citizens and those on social assistance. Each province/territory within Canada operates independently and offers varying levels of supplementary coverage. Services that are not covered under the universal system such as prescriptions, vision, dental and home care are covered mainly through private insurance policies purchased by individuals or employers. (Squires, 2010)

The brochure, It’s For Your Benefit (file:///D:/File%20Downloads/its-for-your-benefit-apr-2013%20(4).pdf), provides detailed descriptions of the medical and community services provided free of charge to Saskatchewan residents who have Saskatchewan Health coverage as well as those services that are partially funded. A full description of the services not covered by the Ministry of Health is also included in the brochure.

Under this system individual citizens are provided preventative care and medical treatments from primary care physicians as well as access to hospitals, dental surgery and additional medical services. With few exceptions, all citizens qualify for health coverage regardless of medical history, personal income, or standard of living. (Canadian Health Care, 2004-2007) These insurance plans are provincial or territorial and are financed by both the federal and the provincial authorities. Provinces are similar to states in the US, and Canada has 10 provinces, which are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan. From about 1940 to 1950 the American government stepped in and encouraged employers to offer health insurance as a part of employee compensation packages which in turn the supply of health insurance increased as more and more commercial insurance companies entered the market and the use of healthcare increased as medical technology became more sophisticated.

Which would become the incredible modern thing that is telemedicine. The ability to monitor a person's health remotely is booming in the U.S. and has started quickly spreading to other

Going back hundreds of years, we can trace the history of health care. Although it has evolved over the years, it all has a common goal; to heal those who are ill. Technology is one of the major evolutions and now plays a big role in the health care system. It helps patients to be more involved with their healthcare. They can make appointments, follow up on test results, and contact their doctors. Back then, they didn’t even have all the medicine we have now, let alone the technology. We can only imagine what is in store for the future.

In this paper we will discuss an innovation that has been developed in the last 20 years that has influenced the health care industry. That innovation is telemedicine.

Canada’s health care system is based around the ideas that it will provide coverage for all “medically necessary and hospital physician services” (The Washington Post). This includes preventive care and medical treatment in a primary care setting and allows rights to use of a hospital, dental surgery, and any additional medical services (Canadian Health Care). There is also private insurance that can be purchased or employer-sponsored insurance to provide coverage for supplementary needs. Many Canadian, about two-thirds, will choice to take advantage of this supplementary insurance because many provinces and territories health insurance plan will not cover dental care or drug cover (The Washington Post). Health service are covered through the public health care plan, but since it is still limited in what they will cover, many will seek additional coverage with a private insurance or an employer sponsored insurance.

When using Telemedicine humans can accomplish many great things and can benefit everyone. The potential this innovation has could be really great if they succeed on making it right. If this Innovation worked many lives will be saved across the world. As well as lives we might be able to learn new things from this and find more cures. According to professionals at the medical field telemedicine has been approving for the past couple years and as potential to keep going. Not only is this innovation good at saving lives it is also helping the economy by getting rid of competition. Even though some people see competition in the economy a good thing but it also has its downs that can really help some

Some significant differences between provinces for healthcare include; “drug coverage, family doctors, dental care, wait times and efficiency”, as well as senior care.

The birth of Medicare was in Saskatchewan on July 1, 1962. Medicare was the first government controlled, comprehensive, universal single payer medical insurance plan in Canada. Many insurance industries and all the medical institutions were against the idea of having Medicare. They feared that Medicare will become popular and will spread across the globe. Once the plan was successful all of Canada was protected by a medical insurance system that was based on the Saskatchewan plan and no politician would be allowed to openly oppose it. In addition, the Canadian health care system is a group of socialized health insurance plan that covers the medical costs of all Canadian citizens. The Canadian health care system is publicly subsidized and overseen on a Provincial and or territorial basis, within guidelines set by the Federal government. Canadian citizens are protected under the health care system, for their medical treatments from primary care physicians, access to hospitals, and additional medical services. Every Canadian citizen qualifies for health care coverage regardless of their income, lifestyle, and medical history. Although Canadians are protected for a portion of their health care there are still many services that are not protected under the health care system, such as dental services, prescription medication, and optometrists.

In the United States, a renewed interest occurred in telehealth in the 1990s according to McGonigle and Mastrian because of escalating costs, the need for greater access for all

Also, Alberta’s government is very individualistic mentality. On the other hand, Saskatchewan’s government uses cooperatives and collectives ways, and it is popular. It has free hospital and provided health care in Saskatchewan. And it has a government-owned company formed. Also, bill of rights for citizens provided. Finally, the difference of immigration patterns between Alberta and Saskatchewan. In Alberta, there are three points of immigration structure. Such as many U.S. immigrants to Alberta, the attitude of populist-liberal, and the viewpoint of standpat Christian. However, there are four points of immigration models in Saskatchewan. For example, there are many British immigrants to there, and Saskatchewan was impacted through the British Labour occurrent. Also, it started the Farmers’ Union, and it has favored collective marketing of cereal. To sum up, there are three difference parts compare these two

In Canada, healthcare comes from the ‘Single payer system’ (Canadian health care system, 2013). Single payer is known to be quite normal in many other countries, for example, New Zealand. It is basically a publically funded system that is provided by the provincial governments through taxes with guidance and some funds from the federal government (Canadian health care system, 2013). This health system covers Canadian citizens, permanent residents and temporary

There are several forms of technology that is used to monitor, assist patients with self-care management, assist physicians with delivering care to their patients, including consultation with specialist, and overcoming barriers with transportation. “60% of the healthcare executives, physicians, and nurses in this inaugural survey said that telemedicine was a high priority for 2015“ (Vockley, 2015, para. 7) Telemedicine