Migration Report #1

Service Migration Report – May 3/04 to June 2/04

The Service Migration Coordinator position is one with many dimensions in terms of Aboriginal Health Care and how new technologies like Telehealth can be introduced into the program service delivery models. The month of May was a time of orientation and continuous learning due to the wide variety of programs offered along with the various funding agencies that exist. I reviewed the Sioux Lookout First Nation Health Authority (SLFNHA) Annual reports and documents such as The Participatory Research Project, Healthy Choices- Proposals for Changing Hospital and Health Care Services within the Sioux Lookout Zone, The National First Nations Telehealth Research Project, as well as, reviewed KOTH website and familiarized myself with KO news, partners reports and projects such as Report on the First Nations Telehealth Workshop, KOTH communication strategy, and the pilot projects Telepsychiatry,Teleophthalmology.

Once the SLFNHA organization orientation was complete, I set up introductory meetings with staff within the SLFNHA office, Nodin CFI and K-Net. James Morris, SLFNHA Executive Director did an overview for me of the First Nation culture, Darryl Quedent of Health Canada provided me with an orientation to Non-Insured Health Benefits, Brian Beaton and Dan Pellerin of K-Net provided me with an overview of K-Net.

In order to become familiar with the numerous health programs in existence, I performed web searches for programs that exist within FNIHB, Health Canada and NAN, while reviewing the northern community websites as well as some of the Telehealth sites.

In order to become familiar with the intricacies of the Telehealth services offered, I spent a week in Red Lake at the KO Administration sub-office. While in Red Lake I was able to meet the staff, attend the KO Clinical and the KO Clinical Coordinators meetings. I was able to familiarize myself with the current educational and clinical scheduling process, the Telehealth equipment (IDoc cart and attachments) and how to operate it. I sat in on a training session and visited the new Telehealth building that is expected to house the Telehealth operations at end of June.

Currently, I am setting up meetings with Program Managers within SLFNHA, I hope to gather more detailed information regarding programs as well as obtain a contact list for services provided within the programs.

The month of June will be spent gathering and collating program information. Of high priority will be Nodin CFI and the Telepsychiatry project. The ability to improve and enhance the current program delivery models within clinical and non-clinical programs will be challenging, however the end results of a greater availability for training, education, and follow up will benefit the aboriginal communities.

Nancy Greaves
Service Migration Coordinator