The collaboration will result in a major upgrade to the bandwidth and security of SSHA’s existing communications network. In all, 48 sites in Northwestern Ontario will benefit from the network upgrade.

Mike Lauber, Chair, SSHA Board of Directors, explained: “Health care increasingly relies on SSHA’s IT products and services - especially our network. In Northwestern Ontario, our network is enabling better care by helping patients to video-conference with their health care providers located hundreds and even thousands of kilometres away. Our network also allows health care professionals to access more patient information in a secure and reliable way - meaning quicker diagnoses and more efficient patient care.”

“TBayTel is privileged to be a part of this innovative health care initiative to provide a collaboration between information and technology within the health care system” said Don Campbell, President and CEO of TBayTel. “We are very pleased to work with our partners to implement this dedicated high performance network, which will provide transformative change to individual lives and entire communities.”

Hydro One Telecom is providing the dedicated core section to SSHA’s new telecommunications network and has selected TBayTel to implement and connect all of the health care sites in Northwestern Ontario, known as Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) 14.

“The scope of the plan is tremendous and is matched by the geography and complexities of providing significantly improved health services in all areas in Ontario, regardless of location” commented Paul Marchant, President, Hydro One Telecom. “TBayTel’s proven record of success allows us to create a partnership that delivers on an ambitious goal to provide Northwestern Ontario residents the type of health care and services we want for our families. This initiative goes beyond providing a service; it delivers an improved quality of life.”

Representatives from SSHA, TBayTel, and Hydro One Telecom made the announcement at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

For more information, please contact:

Paul Kilbertus
Director of Communications, Smart Systems for Health Agency
1.416.586.4327 or 1.888.411.7742
paul.kilbertus@ssha.on.ca

David Hurst
Director of Marketing, Hydro One Telecom
1.416.580.5805
david.hurst@HydroOne.com

Barry Streib
Director of Corporate Relations, TBayTel
1.807.684.3509
barry.streib@tbaytel.com

Smart Systems for Health Agency
www.ssha.on.ca

Smart Systems for Health Agency (SSHA) electronically connects Ontario health care professionals to patient information - contributing to more informed decisions by those treating us. SSHA is an agency of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care from which it receives 100 per cent of its funding. Its products and services are free for publicly-funded health care organizations and professionals.

Currently, SSHA’s network is being used at over 7,000 health care locations (approximately a quarter of all sites) by:

• 100% of Ontario public hospitals


• 100% of Ontario Public Health Units


• 100% of Ontario Community Care Access Centres


• 100% of Ontario retail chain pharmacies


• 100% of Ontario Local Health Integration Networks


• Provincial wait list services: Cancer Care Ontario, Cardiac Care Network, Trillium Gift of Life Network


• Ontario Telemedicine Network


• A growing number of physician offices and continuing care organizations.

Currently, deployment is:

• 1,500 physicians (8% of total)


• 1,400 continuing care organizations (45% of total)

Hydro One Telecom
www.hydroonetelecom.com

Established in 2000 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro One Inc., Hydro One Telecom leverages its parent company’s telecommunications assets and delivers state-of-the-art, broadband telecommunications solutions to carriers, ISPs, and large public and private sector customers. Hydro One Telecom Inc. is a CRTC-registered, non-dominant, facilities-based carrier, providing broadband telecommunications services in Ontario with connections to Montreal and Buffalo, New York and Detroit, Michigan. Its fibre network spans over 4,000 km.

Hydro One Inc. is a holding company that operates through its subsidiaries in electricity transmission and distribution and telecom businesses. One of its subsidiaries, Hydro One Networks Inc., operates one of the largest transmission and distribution systems in North America. Hydro One Inc. is wholly owned by the Ontario government.

TBayTel
www.tbaytel.net

As the #1 Communications Solutions Provider in Northern Ontario, TBayTel is dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art competitively priced telecom solutions that ensure people, businesses and communities of Northern Ontario have multiple points of access to the global communications highway. TBayTel offers the region’s largest digital cellular coverage with extensive products and services that include data, voice, wireless, Internet and security. With over a century of contributing to the quality of life, infrastructure and economic health of the north, TBayTel’s understanding of regional market dynamics is unparalleled.

Backgrounder (PDF).