Increased Use of Digital Health Innovation Recognized

Infoway Accelerate Challenge Teams Benefit Nearly 20,000 Canadians 

OTTAWA, Sept. 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Three Canadian digital health leaders emerged as the award recipients in the Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) Accelerate Challenge, launched to help accelerate use of digital health innovation. 

Award recipients The Ottawa Hospital, The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Health PEI all recorded double-digit growth in the use of their solution over a six month period. They are among a group of eight digital health demonstration projects that Infoway invested in through its Consumer Health Solutions and Innovation investment programs. These demonstration projects have delivered digital health solutions to more than 20,000 clinicians and patients.   

"Innovation is essential to improving access to quality care and achieving the efficiencies needed to sustain our health care system," said Michael Green, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway.  "The more digital health is used by clinicians and patients, the more these benefits will amplify.  It is my pleasure to recognize the growth in use that the Infoway Accelerate Challenge participants accomplished."   

Below is an overview of the achievements of the award recipients:

• First Place: The Ottawa Hospital, for their clinical mobile app. The app allows clinicians to conveniently and securely access vital patient information using mobile devices, which saves time and helps strengthen bedside care.     
• Second Place: Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, for their patient portal. The portal has been useful to patients, who can use it to communicate with their clinicians and access the information they need to take more active roles in the management of their health and wellness.
• Third Place: Health PEI, for their Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) system. The system allows clinicians' orders to be entered electronically rather than by hand, which reduces errors by eliminating illegible handwriting, improves patient care and increases patient safety.  

Recipients were recognized at an award ceremony at The Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus this morning, joined by Mr. Royal Galipeau, MP, Ottawa-Orleans.

"Fostering digital health innovation increases the benefits that will improve the patient experience for years to come," said Mr. Galipeau.  "I applaud the recipients of the Infoway Accelerate Challenge, all the participants and the broader digital health community for the role they play in accelerating the development and effective use of digital health solutions across Canada."  

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.

SOURCE: Canada Health Infoway

For further information: Dan Strasbourg, Director, Media Relations, Canada Health Infoway, Tel: [phone], [e-mail]