According to Michael Green, President and CEO of Canada Health Infoway, the technology that makes this possible is becoming increasingly available to Canadians.
“It’s about more than just offering convenience,” said Green. “It’s empowering Canadians to be more actively involved in their care.”
Digital Health Week is supported by health organizations from across Canada to help Canadians recognize the value of going digital and to inspire further progress in providing Canadians with digital health tools.
“Easier access to their own health records, lab results, and medication information, helps provide patients with safer, faster, and more effective care,” added Green.
Key facts about digital health in Canada
- Most Canadians (89 per cent) feel it is important that they personally have full access to digital health tools and capabilities (Harris/Decima)
- 90 per cent of Canadians who access their own health information online describe the experience as positive (Harris/Decima)
- More than half of the visits to regular doctors/places of care could be avoided by adults aged 18-54 if they had had access to information and tools to connect with their providers (Conference Board of Canada)
Better Health Together/Digital Health Week Supporting Organizations
All the provinces and territories and the federal government are working together with a number of Supporting Organizations to increase awareness of digital health, including:
- Accreditation Canada
- BC Health Information Management Professionals Society
- Canada Health Infoway
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Canadian College of Health Leaders
- Canadian Diabetes Association
- Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement
- Canadian Home Care Association
- Canadian Medical Association
- Canadian Mental Health Association
- Canadian Nurses Association
- Canadian Nursing Informatics Association
- Canadian Ophthalmological Society
- Canadian Patient Safety Institute
- Canadian Pharmacists Association
- Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists
- COACH: Canada’s Health Informatics Association
- Health Care Social Media Canada
- Heart and Stroke Foundation
- ITAC Health
- JDRF
- MedicAlert Foundation Canada
- Neighbourhood Pharmacy Association of Canada
- Ontario Lung Association
- Ontario Telemedicine Network
- Patients Canada
- Patients for Patient Safety
- Rick Hansen Foundation
- Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
About Digital Health Week
Digital Health Week (November 16-22, 2015) was created by leading health care organizations to recognize how digital health is transforming care, helping to improve delivery of care across the country and increase awareness about both the value and benefits of digital health for all Canadians. For more information about digital health and activities taking place throughout Digital Health Week, visit BetterHealthTogether.ca.
Join the discussion #thinkdigitalhealth
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For more information, or to arrange an interview with a digital health subject matter expert or a patient who uses digital health:
Haley Armstrong
Senior Director, Communications and Public Relations
Canada Health Infoway
647-713-9459
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Follow @Infoway