Table 1. Description of the Telehealth Projects Included in the Study .
| Projects | Overview |
| The Eastern Quebec Telepathology Network (2004-2015) (A) | Network of different specialists (eg, pathologists and surgeons) and organizations to ensure access and continuity of pathology services throughout eastern Quebec, thereby avoiding the transfer of patients and interruption of services in rural and remote areas. (Still functional). |
| "My digital primary health care" (E-personal health record E-PHR) (2012-2015) (B) | By optimizing communication between patients with chronic diseases and interdisciplinary care teams, the project aimed to improve access, quality, and continuity of primary healthcare and services in order to make patients more active in the management of their health and disease (No longer active). |
| Teleophthalmology (diabetic retinopathy) (2010-2013) (C) | Designed to provide diabetic retinopathy screening services remotely for Aboriginal and First Nations communities in Quebec, the project also aimed to strengthen service corridors in order to ensure the follow-up and management of diabetic patients (Still functional). |
| Telemedicine in pre-hospital emergency services (2006-2011) (D) | This project linked nurses and nurse practitioners to emergency physicians in order to support, in real time (using ICTs), ambulance technicians/paramedics. The aim was to optimize the ambulance transport time for patients with an unstable state of health (Still functional). |
| "CLSC of the Future" (Telehomecare and telemonitoring) (2000-2004) (E) | A network that facilitated information-sharing and decision-making between clinicians and patients, supporting services integration and coordination of in-home care (No longer active). |
| The Quebec Oncology Computerized Network (1999-2002) (F) | This electronic health record system for clinicians who provide care for women with breast cancer was designed to support the delivery of integrated oncology care by improving the flow of clinical information among caregivers and between the caregivers and their patients (No longer active). |
| "Telemedicine for regions" (Teleconsultation) (1997-2000) (G) | By improving communication between teams of professionals, the project aimed to improve access to specialized health services for remote populations (teleconsultation) and access to training for the professionals practicing in these regions (teletraining) (Still functional with minimal activity). |
| Telepsychiatry (H) (1998-1999) | Designed to provide outpatient psychiatric services for patients referred by a family doctor who took charge of the patient’s follow-up, this project allowed remote access to a psychiatrist, which avoided travel for both patients and psychiatrist (No longer active). |
| Pediatric telecardiology and teleradiology (1995-1998) (I) | Designed to provide specialized distance pediatric cardiology and radiology services for rural and remote areas that didn’t have radiologists or pediatric cardiologists on site. Therefore, it reduced wait times for patients or avoided their transfers and travel over long distances (Still functional with minimal activity). |
| The Rimouski Microprocessor Health Card (1993-1995) (J) | Designed to ensure that patients and healthcare professionals used a microprocessor card that provided quick access to the patient’s clinical and administrative information (No longer active). |
Abbreviations: E-PHR, E-personal health record; ICTs, information and communication technologies; CLSC, Centre local de services communautaires.