When baby Carl Burton was ready to return to staff at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, IWF Hospital in Halifax did a teleconference link to discuss his needs and progress.

It was the first such conference for KEMH and has been heralded a major success by hospital coordinators. The result is that when baby Carl was transferred he spent only three days at KEMH and was then released to his parents. Roxanne Kipps-Jackson, programme manager for the Maternal Child Unit at KEMH, and Dr. Eugene Outerbridge, physician leader of Paediatrics at KEMH both say the short stay is remarkable and due in large part to the conference.

"This was a good example of centres working together," said Dr. Outerbridge.

Each of the personnel involved with baby Carl's care in Halifax presented an update on his condition. Speaking live to a room filled with the relevant local specialists, questions could be asked and clarifications gleaned in a smooth, quick and thorough manner.

The standard way physicians talk to each other, especially when one is overseas, is through written medical reports. Of course written medical reports were also a feature of baby Carl's transfer but the ability to dialogue live was according to Dr. Outerbridge "very valuable".

About 20 medical professionals including five from Government's Child Development Project together with Carl's parents, were on hand in the conference room at KEMH. Additionally the health insurance representative from Argus Insurance joined the conference by telephone.

Ms Kipps-Jackson, who coordinated the conference, said getting everyone together "took some doing" but she pointed out the incredible savings made by having such a short hospital stay. "Nurses know that pre planning cuts down on the length of stay," she said.

Besdies the corresponding decrease in costs, it makes the parents happy to be united with their child at home sooner rather than later.