Pictured above: Kirsten (left) and Sarah (right) are Lactation Consultants at BC Women’s Hospital, and have benefited from the donor-funded headsets, providing comfort and better audio quality to improve patient experience and access to care.
Virtual Health Technology has been delivered to the BC Women’s + BC Children’s Hospital Campus, equipping staff with new equipment to safeguard the well-being of women, children, and healthcare workers.
Bolstered by a $100,000 donation from Darren Entwistle, President + CEO of TELUS, along with the generosity of numerous donors and supporters to our COVID-19 Fund: Hospital + Staff, donations have helped purchase these virtual tools that are enhancing access to care and allowing healthcare teams to continue providing expert care while physically distanced from patients.
The urgent need for Virtual Health Technology arose in direct response to COVID-19 as the healthcare teams and care providers needed to rapidly roll-out a virtual program and adapt to the new realities of care delivery across the BC Women’s + Children’s Hospital Campus. This initiative led to an exciting partnership with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, our first initiative of this kind.
Together, we raised more than $250,000 to support virtual health across the entire campus.
The brand new Virtual Health Technology equipment has helped providers significantly. To date, 1,248 brand new headsets, along with 136 new speakerphone pods and 100 webcams, have been distributed to areas throughout the hospital campus, including support of BC Women’s Hospital departments and programs such as the Women’s Ambulatory Clinic, Complex Chronic Diseases Program, Maternal Newborn Programs, Medical Genetics, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and more.
The donor-funded technology has allowed more than 30% of appointments at BC Women’s Hospital to be held virtually, safely connecting staff members to patients across the province. This technology has allowed staff to provide ongoing support to women in and out of the hospital – from scheduling appointments to providing ultrasound, bloodwork, or diagnostic reports, and direct consultations. This subsequently helps reduce stress and strain for those who spend long periods of time on calls.
“This much needed equipment has, and will continue to, significantly improve audio and video quality for patients and providers engaging in virtual clinic visits and virtual inpatient rounds. That has had a direct and positive impact on experience and wellness for all. Thank you for your support, and for coming together to help this happen in a coordinated way for all of BC Women’s + BC Children’s Hospital Campus.” – Karyn Epp, Director, Strategic Program Development, Patient Care Administration
Digital health tools are empowering women and families to take greater care and control over their health. This technology roll-out will help reach women during pregnancy or postpartum; as well as those experiencing complex conditions such as heart disease, pulmonary disease, gastrointestinal disorders, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, and other undifferentiated medical conditions.
Thank you for supporting BC Women’s Health Foundation and bringing innovation to the campus, now and in the future.
STAY ENGAGED
- Read about the impact of donations on delivering life-saving virtual resources to women who have experienced gender-based violence.
- Learn more about our COVID-19 Fund: Hospital + Staff and how your donations can provide direct support to frontline healthcare workers.
- Give today to make an impact on the emerging needs of BC Women’s staff, women, families, and their communities.
BC Women’s Health Foundation is BC’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the full spectrum of women’s health. The information shared is intended to educate, inform, and point readers to credible sources. It is not intended to substitute professional medical advice.
