Blog: Infoway Connects

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Bobby Gheorghiu

Although Canada’s health care system faces many challenges ahead, there is also tremendous innovation happening that is transforming the way health care is delivered. Through the use of technology, for example, health care can be brought closer to the patient — it can be accessed at the touch of a tablet or specialized device, such as a blood pressure cuff or wireless scale, through which health care providers monitor changes in a patient’s condition and coach them on how to manage their health — and before it deteriorates, requiring a trip to the emergency room.

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Anne Snowdon

There are a number of legitimate concerns that have been raised around the rapid explosion of health apps. A key barrier to the widespread adoption of health apps continues to be worries around privacy, security, and liability issues related to accessing, storage and ownership of health data. Health information is considered highly sensitive and private, and there are valid questions regarding liability should inappropriate access to information take place, or if health information is inadvertently released due to technical issues. There is also ambiguity around the regulation of health apps themselves, particularly when they offer medical information or health-based services.

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Fraser Ratchford

Digital health is making a significant impact to Canadians and is resulting in better delivery, quality and access to care. e-Booking is one of the tools that is adding convenience and increasing productivity to the health care system. It allows patients to book their own medical appointments online at any time and without the assistance of office staff. Patients receive online confirmation and alerts about their appointments, allowing the office staff to focus on higher-value tasks.

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Julie Latreille

I had the pleasure of being the guest speaking at a recent webinar hosted by the Consumer Health and Innovation team at Canada Health Infoway. The webinar focused on how teams, who are part of the e-Connect Impact Challenge, can develop a successful quality plan.

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Anne Snowdon

Last summer, researchers at the International Centre for Health Innovation (the Centre) performed an analysis of the most popular health apps to define the purpose of each app and to examine the value these apps may offer consumers outside of the traditional health system.¹ The “Top 100” most popular apps were generated for both Android and iPhone operating systems for two categories, health and fitness and medical, which then underwent content analysis to find major themes.

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Simon Hagens

Do computers in the exam room impact patient-provider interaction? This is a topic of much debate, but less concrete evidence. To add to the conversation, we analysed data from a survey conducted by Harris Decima to measure public attitudes and understanding of health information and communication technology (ICT). The survey was in field in February and March 2014 and collected perspectives from 1,512 Canadian adults.

Posted on June 10, 2014 by Anne Snowdon

This February, my colleagues and I at the International Centre for Health Innovation at the Ivey Business School at Western University released the report “It’s All About Me: The Personalization of Health Systems.” The report describes the emerging consumer-driven demand for a more personalized health system, and the steps health systems must take to meet this fundamental shift. Unprecedented access to health information and revolutionary medical discoveries are working together to generate this grassroots demand for personalized healthcare, and it is fascinating to me to see the role mobile health applications (health apps) are playing in this shift.

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Fraser Ratchford

Canada Health Infoway’s website features dozens of stories and videos about the progress that’s being made with digital health solutions across Canada. The breathe app is our most recent video. An ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge participant, the breathe app is recognized as a unique tool that is helping asthma patients monitor and manage their condition. Created by the Ontario Lung Association with support from Infoway, the app is helping bring care closer to home. Check it out.

Posted on May 15, 2014 by Fraser Ratchford

The ImagineNation Public Health Social Media Challenge seeks to inspire public health organizations in Canada to use social media initiatives in creative and innovative ways to improve public health. We’ve had a number of public health teams sign up already and recently held an Expert Forum where some of the teams presented their social media initiatives to a panel of experts for feedback and advice.

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Shelagh Maloney

I’ve been attending the eHealth conferences for over two decades and every spring, I find myself looking forward to the event and this year is no exception (except that spring has come a bit later!). I was asked recently why I attend the conference, what I get out of it and what advice would I have for a first-time attendee. Responding to these questions provided me with an opportunity to think about the eHealth experiences I’ve had over the years and why this conference remains one of my favourites.

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Fraser Ratchford

Giving patients the ability to e-book their own medical appointments can benefit both patients and clinicians. Patients can book appointments 24/7 and receive electronic confirmations and alerts while staff can focus on higher-value tasks. Our infographic examines some of these benefits.

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Dr. Francis Lau

In 2008 the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) and Canada Health Infoway co-funded a five year Applied Chair award in eHealth. The CIHR Applied Chairs program is to support mid-career academics that conduct policy-relevant research, and are dedicated to the exchange of this research with decision makers and mentoring trainees in the area of applied health services and policy research.

Posted April 15, 2014 by Fraser Ratchford

Benefits to patients

Often, when I try to book a medical appointment, it can be a frustrating experience as it means busy signals and waiting on hold. However, e-booking solutions can let patients book their own appointments, in a matter of seconds and at their own convenience. Canada Health Infoway recently launched an e-Booking Initiative designed to encourage the adoption of e-booking solutions.

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Fraser Ratchford

Benefits to clinics

When it comes to digital health, sometimes a small change can make a big difference — and this is the case with e-booking. A recent white paper released by Canada Health Infoway studies the benefits of e-booking for both clinics and patients.

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Fraser Ratchford

Canada is a very connected nation. In fact, Canadians are the heaviest Internet users in the world, spending an average of 45.6 hours per month online, according to a report from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA). They also use social media, and, according to Statistics Canada, just over two-thirds (67%) of those Canadians who used the Internet visited social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter in 2012.

Posted on March 21, 2014 by Shelagh Maloney

A recent paper by Ivey International Centre for Health Innovation, “It’s All About Me: The Personalization of Health Systems” discusses the importance of personalizing health systems. “There is increasing evidence that not only are individuals ready to manage their own health and wellness, they are actively seeking out strategies and tools to take charge of their health and to change the way they access health services,” the paper states.

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Fraser Ratchford

This year Canada Health Infoway is challenging public health organizations to go viral. Our ImagineNationPublic Health Social Media Challenge is designed to inspire public health organizations in Canada to use social media initiatives in innovative ways to improve public health. Social media presents a great opportunity for public health organizations to reach Canadians — and to mobilize them.

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Trevor Hodge

This blog post was created in collaboration with my colleague and fellow blogger Dennis Giokas.

The use of digital health records is accelerating worldwide. As we meet with our colleagues in other countries we often discover confusion – and in some cases disagreement – with the definition of terms associated with digital health records.