 The Beauty of Telemedicine
Thanks to technology, physicians don't always need to see their patients in order to diagnose medical problems and to recommend treatment. Remote access health care links patients to physicians through hi-tech tools, such as specialized digital cameras, photographic cell phones and video conferencing equipment. By participating in remote access health care, or "telemedicine," patients who live in remote areas or who are physically unable to travel can reduce the number of trips they make to their physician, as well as the number of hours waiting in the office.
There are various projects throughout Canada that employ telemedicine to facilitate medical treatment. One example is the SLICK project (for diabetes care) in Alberta, in which trained photographers travel to First Nations reserves to take photos of patients' retinas with a specially designed digital camera. These images are then examined by an ophthalmologist hundreds of kilometres away. The outcome of this particular project has been a decrease in diabetes complications, emergency room visits and hospitalization.
Currently, there are no figures regarding the financial impact that this type of medical treatment has on Canada's health-care system. However, with fewer ambulance trips and shorter hospital visits, it is speculated that telemedicine, in certain cases, can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional medical practices.
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Consumer Tip:
Seniors and heat exposure
Exposure to extreme temperatures can be deadly for seniors, especially in the summer. It's important for seniors, their families and their caregivers to become familiar with the signs of heat exposure and ways to avoid it in the first place. Here are some tips from the Seniors Canada On-Line website, www.seniors.gc.ca:
• Dress for the occasion - if temperatures are expected to soar, either stay indoors, or bring an umbrella and hat for sun protection, and wear loose fitting clothing.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Wear sunscreen.
• Make sure movement can be made comfortably.
• Pay attention to the UV index and smog alerts. Both can affect the amount of sun that filters through to our skin.
• Avoid over exertion.
• At the first sign of a high temperature, flushed skin, dilated pupils, delirium or vomiting, it could be a signal of either heat stroke or heat exhaustion. Either way get the person out of the sun and to a doctor for immediate care.
Seniors Canada On-line has all kinds of helpful information for seniors, their families and caregivers, particularly summer safety tips, at www.seniors.gc.ca.
- News Canada |
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| Mosquito myths |
| Myth: |
All mosquitoes carry diseases. |
| Fact: |
Only certain fresh water mosquitoes (as low as 15 per cent of the species) actually carry viruses which can be harmful to humans. |
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| Myth: |
Mosquitoes die after one bite. |
| Fact: |
Mosquitoes are capable of biting more than once. Only female mosquitoes bite humans (males feed on the nectar of flowers) and once they have used the blood to develop their eggs, they may bite again. |
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| Myth: |
"Bug zappers" effectively control mosquito populations. |
| Fact: |
Although owners of these devices can hear the sound effects of these machines, mosquitoes make up a very small percentage of the insects caught in these traps. Moths and other bugs are more likely to be drawn to the light. |
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| Myth: |
Burning citronella candles will keep the bugs away. |
| Fact: |
Although burning the candles may be an aesthetically-pleasing, more natural way to seem to get rid of the bugs, it has never been scientifically proven. |
| The moral of the story? Although not every mosquito is a carrier of the West Nile virus, you should protect yourself properly with a repellent containing DEET.
An interesting tidbit...purple martins, which were previously featured in "Our Southern Winter Wonderland" in issue 50, help keep mosquitoes away! |
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