Learning from Rural Health Innovation

摘要

You know that you're Canadian (or, presumably, Australian, Russian or Brazilian) if you measure distance in hours, not miles, or so the saying goes. The vast distances in sparsely populated landscapes represent substantial challenges for the effective delivery of high-quality care. Resources, specialized care and connections that are readily available in urban areas are in short supply. But kayaks, snowmobiles and canola are by no means the only innovations to be inspired by the needs of rural Canada. Many creative solutions to healthcare challenges have also emerged beyond big cities. New models of team-based collaborative care, expanded scopes of practice and imaginative uses of telehealth technology to deliver specialized care are just a few examples. There are rich opportunities for sharing innovations and spreading best practices from community to community.