title: Rapid access to cardiology expertise: an innovative program to provide telephone support for family physicians.
abstract: The increasing incidence of chronic diseases in the Canadian population represents one of the biggest challenges to Canada's healthcare system and its patient population. In 2005, more than one-third of Canadians were burdened with one or more chronic diseases (Broemeling et al. 2008). Moreover, it is estimated that, between 2005 and 2015, two million Canadians will die of causes related to a chronic disease at a cost of more than $9 billion (World Health Organization 2005). An aging population and improvements in the acute care of many diseases predicts that chronic diseases will continue to rise in the foreseeable future. This is a concern as those with a chronic disease use twice the amount of healthcare resources compared to the average adult and have hospital stays that are four times longer than those with acute conditions (Broemeling et al. 2005).
authors: PhD, is an associate professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, in Burnaby, British Columbia. Dr. Lear can be reached at 778-782-7916 or by e-mail at slear@providencehealth.bc.ca.
authors: Scott A
authors: SA
authors: Lear
authors: MHA, is director of clinical and non-clinical programs for Providence Legacy Projects, Providence Health Care, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors: Darlene
authors: D
authors: MacKinnon
authors: MD, MSc, is a PhD candidate in the Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University.
authors: Alejandra
authors: A
authors: Farias-Godoy
authors: MD, FRCPC, is a member of the Division of Cardiology at Providence Health Care and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, British Columbia.
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Nasmith
authors: MD, CCFP, is a clinical professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia and head of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Providence Health Care.
authors: Garey
authors: G
authors: Mazowita
authors: MD, FRCPC, is the head of the Division of Cardiology at Providence Health Care and head of the University of British Columbia Division of Cardiology at St. Paul's Hospital.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Ignaszewski
mesh_terms: D001955:British Columbia; D000072096:Cardiologists; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010821:Physicians, Family; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019114:Remote Consultation; D013689:Telephone