FEATURE REPORT: DEVELOPMENTS IN MEDICAL IMAGING — SEE PAGE 16 Publications Mail Agreement #40018238
CANADA’S MAGAZINE FOR MANAGERS AND USERS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN HEALTHCARE
VOL. 26, NO. 1
FEBRUARY 2021
INSIDE: FOCUS REPORT:
TELEHEALTH PAGE 12 e-VOLVE improves EMRs Several hospital organizations in Southwestern Ontario have implemented Cerner’s Millennium solution to create a modern, regional system. Page 4
Public/private works
PHOTO: COURTESY OF CANON MEDICAL
In a matter of days, a consortium of doctors, government officials, university health centres, clinics and private sector companies joined forces to open a COVID clinic in Montreal, complete with electronic scheduling. Page 6
CANT-WAIT An AI-powered solution for reducing MR waitlists in BC’s lower mainland is now being tested. The solution was created by a group that includes the University of British Columbia, Amazon Web Services, radiologists, and SapienML.com Page 8
Moving AI into medical imaging Diagnostic imaging companies have been steadily integrating Artificial Intelligence into their solutions. A case in point is Canon Medical, which is speeding up diagnostic imaging by adding AI reconstruction across its product line. We report on the demand for new solutions from radiologists, and the progress being made by Canon and other vendors in our Report on Medical Imaging. SEE STORY ON PAGE 16
Partnership brings virtual care to Indigenous communities BY J E R R Y Z E I D E N B E R G
I
ndigenous citizens in Canada have a long history of being underserved by the healthcare system – often living in remote locations, they must frequently travel to get proper care. Even then, the attention they receive may be inappropriate or culturally insensitive, as exemplified by the recent case of Joyce Echaquan, a 37year-old Atikamekw woman who died in a Quebec hospital after taking a video of staff insulting her. Later, Yvonne Boyer, a Métis lawyer and Canadian senator told the Canadian Press, “For every Joyce Echaquan that comes forward, there’s a hundred that have not been heard.” What’s more, because of the distances
that must be travelled, many Indigenous people who need attention simply don’t go – and instead experience a level of health well below that of other Canadians. Now, an Indigenous organization called Saa Dene has partnered with Canadian telehealth leader Maple, creating a new corporation that
Maple Maskawâhtik plans to bring virtual care to indigenous and rural patients across Canada. will bring more virtual care right into the homes, communities and workplaces of Indigenous people. Called Maple Maskawâhtik, the partnership was first announced late last year and started providing services to a First Nations community in Alberta in February.
“We can treat a large number of people right across the country,” said Dr. Brett Belchetz, CEO and co-founder of Torontobased Maple. “In Alberta, we have access to hundreds of practitioners, including mental health specialists, who will be available to treat Indigenous patients on an equal basis. We can bring high-level care to Indigenous patients that is otherwise only available in urban centres like downtown Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto.” Dr. Belchetz noted that because Maple has been scaling up over the past few years, it is already serving over 2 million patients across the country and has many doctors ready to take calls within minutes. Not only has Maple developed a platform that enables patients to access a doctor C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2