Posted on July 7, 2021 by Simon Hagens

Underpinning digital health adoption and implementation is a substantial amount of digital health research. At Infoway, we conduct research into the value of digital health tools and services and the resources that help enable them. This work helps raise awareness of policy gaps and informs decision-making.

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Katie Bryski

The COVID-19 pandemic has concretely demonstrated the impact that social factors can have on health and health equity. Health inequities occur when a person experiences poorer outcomes and quality of care based on who they are, where they live or what they have. The new Social Determinants of Health Working Group on InfoCentral will explore how to incorporate social determinants of health (SDOH) concepts into digital health systems.

Posted on June 9, 2021 by Waldo Beauséjour

June is Canadian Men’s Health Month. Established by the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, this month recognizes the importance of men’s health. This year’s theme is Move for Your Mental Health, encouraging men to get active to improve their physical and mental health. This initiative also helps to raise funds to support men’s mental health.

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Ellie Yu

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have witnessed rapid change in how Canadians engage with health care professionals. According to an Infoway survey, as of April 2021, 36 per cent of all patient-reported routine visits were conducted virtually, compared to 15 per cent pre-pandemic. With more health services being provided digitally, and more Canadians turning to virtual care on a regular basis, digital health literacy is becoming increasingly important to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of digital health for both providers and patients.

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Katie Bryski

As digital health tools and services play an increasingly large role in Canadians’ lives, how we think about models of care delivery is changing. In some cases, health care is moving out of the four walls of the hospital and into the home. Recently, we invited Dr. Michelle Grinman and Dr. Shauna Tierney to the Digital Health InfoCast , Infoway’s podcast, to discuss hospital at home care and their new InfoCentral community.

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Waldo Beauséjour

National Nursing Week occurs every year during the week of May 12: the birthdate of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. It celebrates the nursing profession and recognizes the dedication and contributions of nurses across Canada. This year’s theme is #WeAnswerTheCall, recognizing the many roles that nurses play in the health system and in patients’ health care journeys.

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Ellie Yu

The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t just threatened Canadians’ physical health. It’s impacting mental health as well. According to Infoway research, mental health needs are increasing, with 21 per cent of Canadians reporting fair or poor mental health last year, compared to 17 per cent in 2019.

Posted on April 27, 2021 by  Catherine Searles-Burke

In a recent Infoway study, 80 per cent of respondents were interested in having their health provider send a prescription directly to their pharmacy, without receiving a paper prescription. With 40 per cent of primary care visits now occurring virtually, e-prescribing is becoming an increasingly important tool for clinicians.

Posted on March 23, 2021 by Nancy Gupta

COVID-19 has further exacerbated mental health concerns in Canada. In a recent study conducted by Canada Health Infoway (Infoway), fewer people reported excellent (18 per cent) or very good (31 per cent ) mental health status in 2020 compared to 2019 (24 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively). Similar findings were illustrated by the Canadian Perspective Survey Series conducted by Statistics Canada.

Posted on March 16, 2021 by Katie Bryski and Waldo Beauséjour

Nearly one year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, it is apparent that its effects have been disproportionately felt by Black and racialized Canadians. Research shows that Black people are more likely to contract COVID-19 than white people and are dying at higher rates from the virus. This high COVID-19 mortality rate in Black communities is mostly associated with prior poor health conditions resulting from diabetes, hypertension, cancer and heart disease. According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, Black Canadians report worse health outcomes in general compared to white Canadians.

Posted on March 11, 2021 by  Shelagh Maloney

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As we acknowledge the one-year anniversary of the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, many of us will reflect on how this virus, that didn’t even exist eighteen months ago, has irrevocably changed our world. It’s astounding to think that every single person on this planet has been impacted by COVID-19.

Posted on January 26, 2021 by  Fraser Ratchford

Staying home and wearing masks is protecting our physical health — but it’s important to look after our mental health as well.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, there is growing concern about Canadians’ mental health. According to a recent Infoway study, 21 per cent of Canadians reported a “fair” or “poor” mental health status in 2020, up from 17 per cent in 2019. Their use of digital mental health tools is increasing, too. In 2020, 16 per cent of Canadians stated that they’ve used an e-mental health service in the past, up from 12 per cent in 2019.

Posted on December 22, 2020 by Dr. Rashaad Bhyat

The zeitgeist of 2020 has already been well documented by many wise individuals. But suffice it to say, this has been a year like no other in recent memory, and one that has left an indelible mark on the health care landscape.

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Jamie Bruce

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed Canadians’ daily lives. Whether they’re staying masked or staying home, Canadians are making choices to protect their health and the health of their communities.

Posted on November 24, 2020 by Kelly Kuru and Kelly Davison

The 2020 agreement between SNOMED International and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is an opportunity to highlight the clinical work of nursing. The ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nurses’ associations worldwide. Under the agreement, the International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) will be incorporated into SNOMED CT, the world’s most comprehensive clinical terminology with more than 350,000 active concepts, and SNOMED International will manage, produce and release the ICNP on behalf of ICN, which will maintain governance and ownership of the ICNP content.

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Waldo Beauséjour

Nurses comprise the largest proportion of Canada’s health care providers. The most recent data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI)’s Nursing in Canada, 2019 survey reveals that the regulated nursing workforce grew by 1.9 per cent from 2018: faster than the general Canadian population growth. This increase is welcome news, since nurses play a prominent role in patient care. A larger nursing workforce will support better access to health care for Canadians, especially during this unprecedented health crisis.

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Joel Francis

If there is a universal truth about health care, it’s this: there are a lot of forms. However, not all of them are created equal. Often, the data captured is static — it can’t be independently shared or queried.

Posted on September 8, 2020 by Myriam Brel

A new school year can be exciting — and stressful. Academic anxieties, bullying, romances and peer pressure add up to considerable weight on young shoulders. Heading back to the classroom during a pandemic only heightens that stress, for kids and parents alike.

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Nancy Gupta

Growing up is hard to do, especially online. Adolescence has always brought challenges, but the COVID-19 pandemic has added substantial stress to the lives of youth and young adults across Canada. Physical distancing, uncertainty around schooling and employment and concerns around the virus itself have contributed to rising mental health concerns among young Canadians.