No need for neurosurgeons to consult with trauma patients in person because neurosurgeons can now use ENITS, the Emergency Neuro Image Transfer System.
ENITS is a centralized e-Health online consultation system that makes remote neuro-consultations easier, faster and more accurate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The benefits of ENITS include:
- seventy neurosurgeons at 13 neurosurgical centres providing online consultations to acute care centres through this system
- significantly reduces the need for patients to travel within and out-of-province, or out-of-country for treatment
- patient transfers have been avoided,
- saving more than $50 million since January 2009
Ontario, Canada: Newsroom
News Release
March 3, 2011 10:00 AM
Digital Access To Neurosurgeons Around The Clock
E-health Remote Consultation System Has Saved Taxpayers $50 Million Since 2009
Trauma patients across Ontario now have access to a neurosurgeon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The Emergency Neuro Image Transfer System (ENITS) is a centralized e-Health online consultation system that makes remote neuro-consultations easier, faster and more accurate. Hospitals across the province send head scan images to ENITS where they can be accessed and reviewed by neurosurgeons anytime, anywhere.
This process previously operated on a patchwork system of phone calls – meaning patients often needed to be transferred to be seen in person for a consultation. ENITS now significantly reduces the need for patients to travel within and out-of-province, or out-of-country for treatment. Since January 2009, 1,558 patient transfers have been avoided, saving more than $50 million.
St. Joseph’s Health Centre is the 100th and final acute care centre to join ENITS and access head scans. Seventy neurosurgeons at 13 neurosurgical centres provide online consultations to acute care centres through this system.
As part of the Open Ontario plan, the government is committed to finding savings that can be used toward the health care on which Ontario families rely and providing more access to these services, while improving quality and accountability for patients.
QUICK FACTS
- The average cost of each out-of-country neurosurgery transfer is between $75,000 and $100,000.
- The province is reducing the amount of paper and office equipment it uses, which is expected to save $15.6 million over the next two years.
- Better use of technology and stricter travel rules helped reduce government expenses by $30 million last year, and is expected to save an additional $10 million this year.
- The province recently announced the merger of two agencies – Infrastructure Ontario and Ontario Realty Corporation – which will save Ontarians about $5 million annually.
- Since January 2009, 2,404 head trauma neurosurgical cases have been referred to ENITS.
- eHealth Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care combined have provided $2.3 million to support the development and adoption of ENITS.
LEARN MORE
CONTACTS
- For public inquiries call ServiceOntario, INFOline
1-866-532-3161
(Toll-free in Ontario only)
- Neala Barton
Minister’s Office
416-327-4388
- Abigail Brown
eHealth Ontario
416-586-4238
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
ontario.ca/health