Improving the Quality of patient care in Canada through clinical interoperability

There is no doubt that we have made great strides in Canada on increasing adoption and use of digital health systems. Surveys are now showing that more than 250,000 Canadian healthcare professionals currently depend on access to electronic health information from outside their organizations to make treatment decisions. But we all know that to deliver the best possible care, we still need to increase the data and information flow among clinicians and organizations when and where it’s needed. And we are still a long way from being done.

That increased flow, or clinical interoperability, and the resulting advanced use of clinical systems represents the next frontier in Canadian healthcare and will only happen when organizational, vendor or geographical barriers are removed and the digital health industry in Canada mobilizes to find new ways to share clinical information.

To begin the journey, the Pan-Canadian Clinical Interoperability Steering Committee, composed of clinicians, health and e-health program leaders, vendors and other stakeholders was formed. The Committee, that we co-chair, has just released an Action Plan to accelerate clinical interoperability in Canada. The Action Plan is based on the collaborative efforts and feedback from Canada’s health care leaders and on behalf of the Committee, we ask for your feedback on the Plan to make sure we are on the right path to moving this agenda ahead in Canada.

At this year’s e-Health conference, we will be offering attendees the opportunity to learn more about how they can improve the quality of patient care in Canada through clinical interoperability. Hear from Canada Health Infoway experts, Susan Sepa, Group Director, Clinical System Interoperability and Mario Voltolina, Group Director, Clinical Systems Integration, who are leading a pre-conference workshop on May 31 that will introduce you to tactics to help you navigate a new approach to clinical interoperability.

Also, be sure to stop by Infoway’s exhibit booth (#300), get your game piece and play to Connect 4 #Interoperability while learning about Canada’s clinical interoperability strategy and Action Plan and how you can provide your feedback.

Dr. Peter Rossos CMIO & Gastroenterologist, UHN

Trevor Hodge  Executive Vice President, Canada Health Infoway