Like many industrialized nations, Canada has an efficient health
care system. However, unlike most similar countries, it also has
a large number of rural citizens, with 15 percent of its
population living away from urbanized areas. This demographic
intersection has resulted in Canada's strong emphasis on
telehealth. In fact, according to a report from the government-
funded Canada Health Infoway, telehealth has grown by 35 percent
in five years. CTV News reports on the study, which found that
over 5,700 remote medical stations have been built in that time
span. Traditionally, rural Canadians could only call a nurse for
help with a medical problem. Now, they can apply to have health
monitoring equipment installed in their home or have a web chat
with a doctor. This system is not just for doctor-patient
conversations, either. Increasingly, doctors are collaborating
with one another in Canada via video conferences. Rather than
expensive travel arrangements for consultations, Canadian
doctors can use government-fu