- What Nova Scotia health information and services are currently
available online?
- Central Regional Health Board - lists services/programs
- Clubs & organizations directory - at
library - lists health related support groups (self-help/community focus)
- Just the Berries - physicians' professional support site
- Heart & Stroke
- Canadian Cancer
- Most national organization
sites link to provincial sites and American ones
- Canadian Mental Health Association - factual information and stress
information is in 12 languages
- Dalhousie Family Medicine - has an evaluation tool for evaluating
the accuracy/credibility of health information/sites
- Health Promotion Network Atlantic - on Chebucto Community Net
- VON - general and members only
- Library - health database on articles - has limited access
- Sears Canada - Ask a Nurse program - has pre-taped information and
a 1-800 number to call
- Heart health - has a questionnaire which leads to different
information dependent on answers
- RDA - environment information
- Type any any topic and you will get LOTS of information
Most sites have general contact information and program information, some
have some questionnaires and self-assessment tools. There does not seem to
be much in the way of health services being offered.
- What Nova Scotia health information and services do you think could
be provided online?
- There is a need to organize and link information.
- VON has 2 innovative ideas being explored. (1) Their seniors help
line goes online and (2) their visitors program goes online by visiting
people online
- Seniors population have needs that could be addressed - growing
target group
- As more access is available to larger numbers of people and
information/awareness grows there will be more pressure/demand on existing
services
- As more government services/information is provided online - the
existence of hard copies decreases. The cases of "online is the only
place to get the information" will grow
- Where do you think access arrangements/terminals need to be located?
- Shopping malls
- Waiting rooms
- Support group care givers
- Seniors - community centres, long term care facilities
- Ferry terminals
- Temples, synagogues
- Privacy issue re: mental health population and also the issue of
isolation related to their condition - would they venture into a "public"
site?
- Laptop loan might be a solution
- Issues around cultural health information
- Shoppers Drug Mart/pharmacy
- Doctor's buildings
- Partner with business (example: SuperStore Community Rooms)
- What barriers are there likely to be for potential users in getting
to and using access sites? How can the health community help to overcome
these barriers?
- Culture/language
- Confidentiality
- Maintenance of sites
- Transportation
- User fees
- Hours of operation
- Volunteer dependent
- Current behavior does not include IT regarding health
- Flow of where people go - for example - if sick - where do you go?
- catch people in that flow
- Awareness building required
- Knowledge of site locations - what they can provide
- How do we ensure that potential users understand/know that access
sites exist and can play a role in providing health information and services?
- Advertising - TV, bus, PSA, newsletters, etc.
- Training
- Educate health providers to send people to CAP sites
- Need a clear identity for all CAP sites - easily recognizable
- Awareness building through community health boards
- Who do we need to be talking to who is not at this session?
- Canadian Health Promotion Network Atlantic
- Department of Health
- Medical Society
- Provincial Health Council
- Consumers
- Pharmaceutical companies
