Integration through information communication technology for home care in Canada : Intégration des technologies de l'information et de la communication dans les soins et les services à domicile au Canada : rapport final

Through the support of the Association members who share a commitment to excellence, knowledge transfer and continuous improvement, CHCA serves as the national voice of home care and the access point for information and knowledge for home care across Canada. [...] In response to the absence of a strategy for ICT specifi c to home care, the Canadian Home Care Association (CHCA) has committed to building a national knowledge base on technology in the home and community sector and exploring the challenges and opportunities for current and future applications. [...] The CHCA estimates that one million clients receive home care annually across the country; and the number of transactions - home visits, calls to members of the health team, equipment and supplies ordering - associated with the delivery of this care is ofan unknown and un-quantifi ed greater Home Care is an array of services for magnitude. [...] Some home care providers are using the internet to provide education programs to support (tele-education) the learning needs of their staff; and to provide staff with access to policies, procedures and other resource tools to support the delivery of safe care in the home. [...] ICT has the potential to increase the effi ciency and effectiveness of home care delivery directly; and because of the limited funding available for technology applications, an estimated 50% of the sector is in need of clinical applications and 30% of administrative functions.14 Technology, enabling health care integration.