ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge teams surpass 1 million uses of qualified e-health solutions
since January
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - From patients booking medical
appointments online to pathologists using e-tools to record and report
cancer test results, there have been more than one million uses of
electronic solutions reported as part of the ongoing ImagineNation Outcomes Challenge, announced Jennifer Zelmer, Senior Vice President, Clinical
Adoption and Innovation, Canada Health Infoway (Infoway).
The primary objective of the Outcomes Challenge is to accelerate the use and spread of innovative information
and communication technology solutions, with the ultimate goal of
contributing to the improvement of health care quality and the patient
experience in Canada. Infoway is offering one million dollars in awards to teams whose solutions are
used most and those with the strongest growth in users from January
2012 to March 2013.
"Innovative solutions like those being used by the 29 Challenge teams
reflect what Canadians have told us they want: improvements in the
patient experience, access to care, quality and efficiency in our
health system," said Zelmer. "The Challenge was launched to accelerate
the use and growth of these solutions for the benefit of patients,
clinicians and the health care system as a whole, and it's encouraging
to reach this milestone so quickly."
"With our patient health portal, we've seen how innovation can help
patients play a more active role in self managing their health, and
ultimately receive better care," said Challenge participant Dave
Sellers, Director of Operations at West Carleton Family Health Team.
"It's exciting to see that so many patients across the country are
benefitting from these technologies and getting more involved in
managing their own health."
To qualify for the Challenge, teams are required to have a working solution in one
of four categories: e-Scheduling, Patient Access to Health Information,
Medication Reconciliation, and Clinical Synoptic Reporting. Examples
of uses of these solutions include:
-
A patient scheduling an appointment with a regulated health care
professional such as a physician, dentist, massage therapist or
naturopath online or using a mobile device.
-
A patient or caregiver using a computer or mobile device to securely
access their health information, such as lab results or immunization
history.
-
A clinician reducing the risk of adverse drug events by using an
electronic tool to verify and communicate accurate and comprehensive
medication information across transitions of care.
-
A clinician using an electronic template that embeds the latest clinical
evidence, to record key information about a patient's care, helping to
ensure consistent and complete communication among all the members of
the health care team.
Additional information on the Challenge including how to join, Challenge team profiles and videos, and educational resources are available at www.imagineNationchallenge.ca.
Supporting Organizations
The following Canadian health care organizations are working with Infoway to help shape the Challenge by providing expert advice, encouraging
participation, promoting the Challenge and participating in the judging
panel:
-
Accreditation Canada
-
Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations
-
COACH: Canada's Health Informatics Association
-
Canadian Dental Association
-
Canadian Home Care Association
-
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
-
Canadian Patient Safety Institute
-
Health Action Lobby
-
Institute for Safe Medication Practices
-
Patients' Association of Canada
-
Patients for Patient Safety Canada
-
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
About Canada Health Infoway
Canada Health Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal
government. Infoway jointly invests with every province and territory to accelerate the
development and adoption of information and communications technology
projects in Canada. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these
secure systems will provide clinicians and patients with the
information they need to better support safe care decisions and manage
their own health. Accessing this vital information quickly will help
foster a more modern and sustainable health care system for all
Canadians.
SOURCE: Canada Health Infoway