A project conducted by the Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, University Health Network and Mount Sinai Hospital is developing hand-held technology to enhance the safety of at-risk patients. The new technology will augment nurses’ capacity to monitor patient’s vital signs and detect clinical deterioration. The application of an Early Warning Scores algorithm in the software will alert the Critical Care Response Team (CCRT) when patients deteriorate. The CCRT typically consists of an ICU nurse, respiratory therapist (RT) and physician. The team responds around the clock to staff requests to stabilize patients who are deteriorating or at risk of deteriorating.
Read more: Canada: Enhancing patient safety with hand-held technology
The Alberta government expects to spend upwards of $1.4 billion to implement electronic health records provincewide -- including another $66 million this fiscal year -- for a system the auditor general says has been poorly managed.
The Tory government has been working on implementing electronic health records for more than a decade, with the digital files designed to reduce wait times, improve access and efficiency, and increase patient safety and participation in care.
"Broadband Internet will mean boundless opportunities for these communities," said Mr. Sorenson. "These latest announcements, together with those from round one announced in May, mean that these Alberta households will soon be online at modern, multimedia-capable speeds."
Simple minded in theory, but when a quartet of researchers at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia surveyed 16 of Canada’s 17 medical schools, they discovered that none have included what is formally known as health informatics into their core curriculum. And while three schools reported offering health informatics as an elective course, it was unclear whether any students were actually enrolled in these courses.
Read more: Canadian medical schools slow to integrate health informatics into curriculum
Government of Canada announced the second round of projects in Ontario to receive funding approval through the Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians program, which will deliver important economic and social benefits, including telehealth, business opportunities and distance learning.
The following companies will receive the funding and are responsible for this wave of implementation: Galaxy Broadband Communications Inc., Spectrum Telecom Group Ltd., Blue Sky Economic Growth Corp., TBay Tel and Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre.
Read more: Broadband Canada: Connecting Rural Canadians Round Two