Telecardiology on Vancouver Island: imagination to implementation.

In 2011, there were more than 97,000 people living with Heart Failure in British Columbia (BC) with a total of 17,592 within VIHA. To increase patient accessibility to specialist care, the Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) implemented a telecardiology program that utilizes digital stethoscopes, telehealth technology and collaboration to deliver cardiac care remotely. The program has successfully completed 20 consultations to date in 6 communities within the VIHA. This article outlines processes and outcomes of enabling the existing VIHA cardiology program with the use of telehealth technologies.