CareLink

With the support of Canada Health Infoway, Manitoba Health and Healthy Living launched the $6-million CareLink pilot project in 2008. CareLink is focused on improving patient access to quality primary care through two projects:

1. Chronic Disease Self-Management project

The goal of this project is to expand on the existing Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSM) program at the Provincial Health Contact Centre (PHCC) and add services to northern, rural and remote regions in Manitoba. It provides Manitobans living with diabetes and/or heart failure access to nurses (via telephone) who are trained in chronic disease management. The program is targeting October 2009 for patient enrollment and will operate under the name TeleCARE Manitoba.

Project Benefits

• Expands CDSM services to northern, rural, and remote regions in Manitoba
• Provides diabetes patients in these regions with access to clinicians
• Accommodates patients without phones by expanding MBTelehealth sites to enhance access through videoconferencing

see:  TeleCARE Manitoba chronic-disease self-management program

2. After-Hours Access to Primary Care project

This project establishes a network of physicians to provide after-hours on-call primary care to participating clinics. Patients who call their physician after regular office hours will be directed to Health Links-Info Santé at the PHCC as a first point of contact. Nurses will triage the calls and provide consultation to patients. When a physician is needed for consultation, the nurse will have access to a physician through the after-hours physician network.

Benefits

• Enhances the flow of patient information by linking clinics with key information
• Provides patients with access to quality after-hours care
• Reduces unnecessary visits to emergency departments

Will CareLink connect to existing programs?

The CareLink team connects with health-care providers and patients in regional health authorities to share information and link to existing services. CareLink’s goal is to create sustainable services that improve Manitoba’s primary health-care system.

For more information, contact:

Laura Morrison
CareLink consultant
Manitoba Health and Healthy Living
(204) 788-6679