Telus (TSX:T) has announced yet another investment in telemedicine.
Telus announced March 13 it is investing $3 million in San Diego-based PatientSafe Solutions through its venture capital arm, Telus Ventures. The investment is intended to help increase the adoption of the company's PatientSafe app, which can be used by health professionals to communicate and access patient records electronically.
It is the second investment in the telemedicine field for Telus in less than two weeks. On March 3, Telus announced it had acquired Med Access Inc., a Kelowna-based electronic medical record (EMR) company, for an undisclosed amount.
Telus has invested more than $1 billion in telemedicine. Two years ago, Telus also acquired the B.C. based EMR company Wolf Medical Systems and Quebec-based KinLogix. EMRs are the electronic patient medical records that replace traditional paper record systems.
PatientSafe developed PatientTouch, a mobile application that nurses, physicians and other health professionals can use to communicate with each other while caring for patients. It also gives them access to a patient's electronic medical records.
Telus will be the Canadian reseller of PatientTouch, and will also market it globally to other telecoms.
"TelusVentures and PatientSafe Solutions share a common goal to make healthcare a more effective, efficient, and high-quality experience for patients and hospital systems alike," said Telus Ventures vice-president Mathew George.
"The PatientTouch system has already demonstrated its potential in the United States, having been embraced by leading institutions. We now look forward to bringing the technology north of the border to improve quality of care and positively impact patient outcomes."
