23
Volume3 Issue6
|
I
ssues and
P
eople
thought leaders series
Dr. JeffGlaizel
Whatare themost importantdevelopments in telemedicine indentistry today?
Technology is comingat us faster thanwe knowhow todealwith it. Part of theworkwedo
atOTN is to identify, validateand then scale those solutions that showpromise inhealthcare.
But it isn’t about technology—it’s aboutworkflow, integrationwith theclinician’spractice,
and serving theneedsof thehealthcare system.
Whatsortsofactivities is telemedicine facilitating inCanada?
I can tell you specificallyaboutOntario; OTN is the largest network in theworlddoing
telemedicine.Wehad600,000clinical events last year,whichmeans any interactionbetween
apatient andaprovider, aprovider andprovider, or acasecollaborationonapatient detail.
It’s an interaction that could takeplaceondifferent levels; it couldbeavideodiscussion
about your healthor it could involve remotepatientmonitoring. It’s amazingwhatwe
cando. For example, right now inOntario it takes about 3months from referral toget an
appointmentwithadermatologist. ButOTNhas a teledermatologyprogramwhereageneral
practitioner can takeapicture, upload it, and receivea response fromadermatologist in
about 2days.
What factorsaredriving telemedicine forwardso fast?
Thereare3main factors. Thefirst one is that patientswant it. Theydon’twant togo toa
doctor’soffice; if theycando their bankingonline,whycan’t theyconsult adoctor online?
The seconddriver, from thegovernment’s side, is cost. Thecost of deliveringhealthcare
services is veryexpensive. It’s aquestionof how toprovideexcellent care in the lowest cost
settingwith the lowest cost provider. And thirdly, from thephysician’s side, there isdemand
for their services andaneed to support thecareofmorepatients. Theefficiency that comes
withdigital technologycanhelp support thesedemands.
Whatare thepotentialapplicationsof telemedicine fordentistry?
Teledentistry in the futurewill beabout adentist, incollaborationwith thedental team,
interactingwith thepatient about their healthcareneeds. For example, theycould interview
Will teledentistry transform
ourprofession?
Dr. JeffGlaizel is a general dentist in private practice inTorontoandalso serves as the
ConsumerHealth InnovationandDevelopmentLeadat theOntarioTelemedicineNetwork
(OTN).Hewrote a regular column forCDA called “Plugged In” that examined the use of
digital communications and e-health technologies in practicemanagement and patient care.We
askedDr.Glaizel to tell us how telemedicine is being practised todayand if it has the potential to
transformdentistry.
This interviewhasbeeneditedandcondensed.
Theviewsexpressedarethoseoftheauthorand
donotnecessarilyreflecttheopinionsorofficial
policiesoftheCanadianDentalAssociation.
OntarioTelemedicineNetwork
otn.ca
