eHealth
Learn how the eHealth Program can help your First Nations community improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery to individuals and families through the use of digital health and virtual care technologies.
On this page
About the program
Indigenous Services Canada's eHealth Infostructure Program (eHIP) Solutions Unit (eHSU) works to develop eHealth tools to support the use of health technology in Canada's First Nations and Inuit communities to be connected, informed and ultimately healthier. Their overall aim is to enable front line health care providers working in First Nations and Inuit communities to improve people's health through innovative eHealth partnerships, technologies, tools and services. eHealth is about providing the right information to the right people at the right time.
The benefits of eHealth
As many First Nations and Inuit communities are in remote locations, the development of innovative eHealth partnerships, tools, services and technologies is integral to the overall improvement of First Nations and Inuit health. Some examples of the many benefits that can be realized by communities include:
- enhanced access to the information needed to deliver health services, improve client care and respond to emergencies
- increased professional development opportunities for remote health professionals
- improved collaboration, teamwork and service delivery between remote and non-remote health professionals
- innovative health care options
- improved access to a broad range of services through the use of new technologies, processes and partnerships
- increased job satisfaction among nurses and healthcare providers
What eHealth funds
Developing successful eHealth solutions requires combining knowledge and technology in several key areas. These are the tools that could make up the eHealth solution for your region:
- Connectivity: enabling electronic communications infrastructure through:
- high-speed and broadband tele-communications networks (LEO satellite, Fiber Optic, DSL, etc)
- wireless local area networks (WLANs) tools and equipment
- TeleHealth: providing remote communities with access to clinical and non-clinical health care professionals from a distance through the use of information communications technologies
- Digital Health Records/Public Health Information Systems: applications to support service delivery, reporting and program planning
- Health information for First Nations and Inuit community members: facilitating on-line access to health information through:
- internet portals
- web mail
- web sites
- videoconferencing
- Information for health providers: providing digital health technologies to ensure that health care providers have access to vital health resources, including:
- virtual health libraries
- diagnostic support
- prescription support
- continuing education units for health professionals
- Privacy protection and standards: upholding the health privacy of patients within all communications by:
- applying Health Level Seven (HL7) standards for the exchange, management and integration of data related to clinical patient care
- providing on-line privacy training
Not all funding components of eHealth are available in all regions. Contact the regional office to identify availability.
Who is eligible
- First Nations communities, bands, districts, tribal councils and associations
- Inuit associations, councils and hamlets
- Canadian national Indigenous organizations
- Non-governmental and voluntary associations and organizations, including non-profit corporations
- Educational institutions, hospitals and treatment centres
- Municipal, provincial and territorial governments
- Health Authorities and health agencies
How projects are funded
Funding for eHealth projects flows to recipients through grants and contribution agreements administered by regional offices.
Contact us
To learn more about how Indigenous Services Canada supports eHealth solutions in Canada for First Nations and Inuit communities, please contact your nearest First Nations and Inuit Health regional office.