SASKATOON – The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) International Centre of Northern Governance and Development teamed up with the College of Nursing for a three-day workshop aimed at removing barriers to quality healthcare in remote regions of the province.
It all wrapped up Wednesday with a public session.
The workshop largely focused on using remote presence technology in northern Saskatchewan communities.
The College of Nursing has been using the tool to educate students in La Ronge and Île-à-la-Crosse since September 2012, delivering its bachelor of science in nursing degree to remote post-secondary students.
“In clinical practice, it’s used widely. There’s about a thousand robots in the United States at this point in time, but we are the only place in the world right now using the robots to teach undergraduate nursing education,” said Lorna Butler, U of S College of Nursing dean.
“So it is important as a province, but it’s also important as a country to look at how that leadership is unfolding and what are the implications? How do you take a piece of technology and extend its use?”
Butler says it’s about harnessing technology to promote a “learn where you live” approach to education.
The technology is also important because it addresses a couple of major challenges – including the acute shortage of aboriginal health professionals in the north.
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