Blog: Infoway Connects

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Brad Keates and Dr. Michele Mosca

Quantum computing no longer belongs to the realm of science fiction. It’s advancing to more practical, demonstrated applications and concepts. And while it’s still developing, it has present-day implications for health care.

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Nancy Gupta

COVID-19 has further exacerbated mental health concerns in Canada. In a recent study conducted by Canada Health Infoway (Infoway), fewer people reported excellent (18 per cent) or very good (31 per cent ) mental health status in 2020 compared to 2019 (24 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively). Similar findings were illustrated by the Canadian Perspective Survey Series conducted by Statistics Canada.

Posted on March 16, 2021 by Katie Bryski and Waldo Beauséjour

Nearly one year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, it is apparent that its effects have been disproportionately felt by Black and racialized Canadians. Research shows that Black people are more likely to contract COVID-19 than white people and are dying at higher rates from the virus. This high COVID-19 mortality rate in Black communities is mostly associated with prior poor health conditions resulting from diabetes, hypertension, cancer and heart disease. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Black Canadians report worse health outcomes in general compared to white Canadians.

Posted on March 11, 2021 by  Shelagh Maloney

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As we acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, many of us will reflect on how this virus, that didn’t even exist eighteen months ago, has irrevocably changed our world. It’s astounding to think that every single person on this planet has been impacted by COVID-19.

Posted on March 2, 2021 by Seema Nayani

March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month, a yearly national campaign to celebrate pharmacists and their contributions to Canada’s health system. This year, the Canadian Pharmacists’ Association is shifting the event’s focus from “awareness” to “appreciation,” to better reflect pharmacists’ vital role in health care.

Posted on February 16, 2021 by Christine McGinley

As I enter my “prime” years of life (yes, the sixties), I find myself needing a few more prescriptions than in the past. At my last annual physical, my doctor gave me a handwritten prescription, which I quickly lost somewhere between the car and my home. Replacing it seemed like a huge hassle. I don’t know what shocked me more: the fact that I needed the prescription, the fact that I lost it, or the fact that it was handwritten, in our digital world.

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Jane Holden

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve often found myself grateful for the tools and technologies that have helped us to keep living our lives while grappling with this unprecedented health crisis. While we’ve remained apart, technology has helped us stay connected to our friends, our families and our health system. The experience of this pandemic has concretely demonstrated benefits associated with virtual care and other digital health tools. Does this mean Canadians are ready to embrace these new digital health technologies and models of care for the long term?

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Michael Green

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While the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of virtual care across Canada, there needs to be a concerted effort to ensure that it will be a viable alternative model of care well into the future. Canadians want virtual care, they like it, it’s safe, efficient and effective, and it saves everyone time and money.

Posted on January 26, 2021 by  Fraser Ratchford

Staying home and wearing masks is protecting our physical health — but it’s important to look after our mental health as well.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there is growing concern about Canadians’ mental health. According to a recent Infoway study, 21 per cent of Canadians reported a “fair” or “poor” mental health status in 2020, up from 17 per cent in 2019. Their use of digital mental health tools is increasing, too. In 2020, 16 per cent of Canadians stated that they’ve used an e-mental health service in the past, up from 12 per cent in 2019.

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Jamie Bruce

2020 was a year of immense innovation and resilience. From new partnerships with major retailers like Rexall and Shoppers Drug Mart, to supporting the adoption of virtual care, to new educational initiatives, the importance of PrescribeIT’s role as a national e-prescribing service has never been clearer.

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Mario Voltolina

Canada’s health care system is a source of pride for most Canadians. We see health care in Canada as a reflection of who we are as a country, embodying our aspirations of innovation, fairness, caring, efficiency, equality, professionalism and standards of living.

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Dr. Rashaad Bhyat

When you’re feeling unwell, the last thing you want is to venture out on multiple errands. As we continue to stay home and implement physical distancing measures, I’m reminded of a story a patient recently related to me.

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Dr. Rashaad Bhyat

The zeitgeist of 2020 has already been well documented by many wise individuals. But suffice it to say, this has been a year like no other in recent memory, and one that has left an indelible mark on the health care landscape.

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Jamie Bruce

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed Canadians’ daily lives. Whether they’re staying masked or staying home, Canadians are making choices to protect their health and the health of their communities.

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Seema Nayani

Have you been wondering if e-prescribing is right for you? Are you curious about the details and impact on your workflow?

With Ask a Peer, we’re connecting you with health care professionals who have already begun their e-prescribing journey. Recently, we welcomed pharmacist Andy Donald and family physician Dr. Daniel Pepe to the Digital Health InfoCast to address some of your questions about PrescribeIT^®, Canada’s national e-prescribing service. Here are some highlights from our conversation (edited for clarity and brevity):

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Kelly Kuru and Kelly Davison

The 2020 agreement between SNOMED International and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is an opportunity to highlight the clinical work of nursing. The ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nurses’ associations worldwide. Under the agreement, the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) will be incorporated into SNOMED CT, the world’s most comprehensive clinical terminology with more than 350,000 active concepts, and SNOMED International will manage, produce and release the ICNP on behalf of ICN, which will maintain governance and ownership of the ICNP content.

Posted on November 16, 2020 by  Shelagh Maloney

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I think it’s fair to say that 2020 hasn’t been what anyone expected — particularly for health care. But while this year has brought immense challenges to the health system, it has also served to highlight the progress we’ve made in implementing digital health across Canada. Digital Health Week (November 16-22) is a time to celebrate that progress, and to recognize the benefits of digital health to Canadians. This year, COVID-19 has reaffirmed the importance of virtual care as another option for care delivery.

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Suzanne McGurn

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This week, I’m proud to join Canadian health system leaders in celebrating Digital Health Week — a time to recognize how digital health is transforming the delivery of care.

When I think of the changes brought about by this pandemic, the “overnight” shift to virtual care stands out as among the most significant for Canadians. And although we’ve been talking about digital health for more than a decade, I believe we’re in the early stages of grasping its impact on patients, health care providers, policy-makers, regulators, public payers, and health technology assessment agencies.

Posted on November 10, 2020 by Seema Nayani

Has this ever happened to you? You’ve brought your prescription to the pharmacy, and the pharmacist wants to ask your prescriber a question about it. Unfortunately, the fax machine isn’t cooperating, and the phone line is busy.