Atlantic Provinces and Canada Health Infoway Collaborate to Improve Access to Health Care and Drive Economic Growth through Digital Health

(Toronto) — Today, Canada’s federal Minister of Health, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor announced ACCESS Atlantic, a bold initiative that will make it quicker and easier to access health services in Atlantic Canada.

ACCESS Atlantic is a collaboration between New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Canada Health Infoway (Infoway), an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by Health Canada.

The initiative will implement technology infrastructure across the region to improve access to digital health services and transform the way health care is delivered. This will help patients and their families to:

  • View their health information online, allowing them to better manage their health
  • Access digital health tools and e-services that will make it more convenient for them to access and receive care (e.g., book appointments online, manage chronic conditions from home, secure message with their doctor)
  • Gain the peace of mind of knowing their prescriptions will be transmitted electronically to their pharmacy, through PrescribeITTM, Canada’s e-prescribing service, which will reduce the risk of medication errors
  • Receive care sooner, thanks to streamlined e-referral processes and the availability of other online services, such as mental health support programs

In addition to improving the health of Atlantic Canadians, ACCESS Atlantic will drive economic development in the region. Infoway plans to invest up to $70 million to deploy and scale solutions in Atlantic Canada and leverage the talent and innovation that currently exists throughout the region.

Quotes

“I am excited about the potential of ACCESS Atlantic to enhance health services for Canadians in Atlantic Canada. This initiative will support innovation in how health services are delivered and contribute to local economic growth. ACCESS Atlantic will help transform health care delivery for Atlantic Canadians.”
— The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health

“Our goal is to provide all Canadians with access to a modern, 21st century health system that is sustainable, efficient, and, above all, improves their care experiences and health outcomes. ACCESS Atlantic will set the stage for other initiatives across Canada.”
— Michael Green, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway

“As a digital health technology company operating in Atlantic Canada, we see this as an important opportunity for the region. Our solutions are focused on enabling secure access to personal health information for every citizen via their mobile device. This is an excellent program for us to get exposure and expand our market.” 
— Mark McAllister, President and CEO, VeroSource Solutions, New Brunswick

About Canada Health Infoway

Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. 

About VeroSource

VeroSource Solutions Inc. is a New Brunswick based company that is working to securely enable digital society, leveraging the VeroSource Framework - secure enterprise multi-channel middleware. Team members are actively engaged in areas such as mobile health care, enterprise resource planning, secure storage and transmission of healthcare data, smart device connectivity and data analytics.

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Haley Armstrong
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Canada Health Infoway
519-939-9549
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