Media Coverage
A virtual care innovation for home mechanical ventilation
Monday , April 26, 2021
Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) Vol. 193, Issue 17 26 Apr 2021
Friday, January 8, 2021 – 11:37am
Kingston Health Sciences Centre | Gary Buffett
COVID-19 pandemic accelerates deployment of program to minimize hospital visits for high-risk patient population.
Cristiano, 7, has been using a ventilator since he was six months old.
When he was able to go home from the hospital for the first time at about 18 months of age, Cristiano’s parents were excited but afraid. They would become his frontline health-care team, monitoring his needs and troubleshooting any issues with his medical equipment, including a ventilator. This technology finally gave Cristiano the freedom to live at home, but also posed many challenges for him and his family.
New SickKids program brings virtual care to those on ventilators
December 16, 2020 12:42 PM
CityNews Toronto | Stella Acquisto
Cristiano Buchanan, 7, has depended on a ventilator since he was a baby. Born at 26 weeks, he spent 506 days in the hospital. When he was finally released his parents were happy, but scared because he would be dependent on a ventilator and they would have to become experts in-home mechanical ventilation…For these reasons, a team of clinicians, led by SickKids and the Ventilator Equipment Pool (VEP) have started the Long-Term In Home Ventilation Engagement program or “LIVE” which allows these patients to connect with their health care team virtually through an app.
Also in: 680 News, CityNews online
December 17, 2020
Newstalk 1010 | Barb DiGiulio
We talk to: Dr. Reshma Amin, Staff Respirologist at SickKids and co-lead of the LIVE program Scott Williams – ALS Patient – been a part of the LIVE program & Martha Williams, Scott’s wife
Francine Buchanan speaks about LIVE program
December 21, 2020 07:44 AM
CBC Radio One Toronto 99.1 | Gill Deacon
There’s a new program at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children that hopes to make it easier for those who are considered higher risks for the virus. It allows patients to use ventilators at home to communicate with their doctors virtually, saving a trip to the hospital. Francine Buchanan brought that program to the hospital, she is a Patient and Family Engagement Coordinator at SickKids. Her son, Cristiano, lives with chronic lung disease and requires a ventilator when he sleeps at night.
LIVE program rolled out across the province
December 29, 2020 06:48 PM
CTV Kitchener | Pauline Chan
The pandemic put a rush on plans for a virtual care program to help patients who use home ventilators. It’s been so successful they’re helping to expand it to other patients with complex needs. CTV’s Pauline Chan has more…When Cristiano was a baby he needed the ventilator 24/7 but around four years of age he became strong enough to breathe on his own…Inspired by an e-health conference in 2018, mom Francine Buchanan was working with SickKids to create an app to help these families do more at home
Also in: CTV Barrie
Social Media Coverage
Patients who use ventilators can face frequent hospitalizations. Cristiano, now 7, & his family even spent their first holidays at SickKids. This year the LIVE program – a #virtualcare platform – will help make it easier for them to enjoy Christmas at home https://t.co/PMXlEHSc8d pic.twitter.com/Fpfv9I0mX0
— SickKids_TheHospital (@SickKidsNews) December 15, 2020
The #COVID19 pandemic has made #homecare more important than ever. Read how SickKids’ Dr. Reshma Amin & Ontario Ventilator Equipment Pool Manager, Regina Pizzuti, accelerated a virtual program for patients like Cristiano and Scott who use ventilators. https://t.co/PMXlEHSc8d pic.twitter.com/bIjYE8uba7
— SickKids_TheHospital (@SickKidsNews) December 19, 2020
A new SickKids program is bringing virtual care to those on ventilators, allowing patients to connect with their health care team through an app. https://t.co/yui3zLoqas @stellaacquisto
— CityNews Toronto (@CityNews) December 16, 2020
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