Abstract:

This project establishes and evaluates a multimedia rehabilitation consultation network to allow clients and staff of remote Children's Treatment Centres and other rural community sites to share solutions and to consult with colleagues and professionals using multimedia telecommunication technology. The delivery of specialized services to rural or remote areas can be difficult, due to the large distances from specialized research and development facilities. The use of a telecommunications medium that incorporates two-way voice, video, and computer networking has tremendous potential to enhance services and reduce loss of work time for parents, school-time for clients, and travel costs for clients, parents, or professionals. In the first year of the Remote Rehabilitation Services Network (RRSNet) project, a survey of clinicians at Children's Treatment Centres in Ontario and at Bloorview MacMillan Centre was carried out to determine their needs for televideo technology. Two sites were selected, one in Northern Ontario (Laurentian Hospital in Sudbury and George Geoffrey's Children Treatment Centre in Thunder Bay) and one general rehabilitation Centre in Southern Ontario (K-W Ability Centre). The concept of using televideo technology was actively promoted to provide or obtain (re)habilitation services within Bloorview MacMillan Centre and in children's rehabilitation centres in the province.