Innovation can’t scale without strong, connected foundations. As Canada’s health system becomes more digitally enabled, it needs infrastructure that supports secure, seamless, and real-time information sharing. That is where interoperability comes in. But achieving it means more than just linking systems. It requires thoughtful design that reflects how care is actually delivered.

This session explores how Canada is redefining interoperability as a strategic enabler of better care. It supports clinicians in their workflows, improves the patient experience, and drives system-wide performance.

At the centre is HALO (Health Application Lightweight Protocol), a foundational approach to building modular, vendor-neutral systems that integrate directly into clinical practice. HALO is more than a technical tool; it represents a new way of designing digital infrastructure around the realities of care.

We will share early insights from HALO pilots in British Columbia and Ontario, where this approach is being tested to reduce administrative burden, improve timely access to information, and enable more connected, coordinated care.

Bringing together clinical, technical, and implementation perspectives, this session will show how interoperability, when built with usability and trust in mind, can accelerate progress toward modern, team-based, patient-centered care.

What You’ll Learn

• How interoperability can improve clinical workflows, reduce administrative burden, and support more coordinated care
• What HALO is, and how it offers a new, modular approach to building vendor-neutral digital health systems
• Early lessons from HALO pilot projects in British Columbia and Ontario, and what they reveal about real-world implementation
• How thoughtful infrastructure design can improve patient experience and system performance
• What it takes to shift from fragmented systems to connected care across Canada

Innovation in healthcare often begins as an initial project—testing the waters and full of promise, on the way to broader adoption. The journey from initial project to standard practice presents both challenges and opportunities. In recognition of Arthritis Awareness Month, this Longwoods Leadership Discussion will dive into strategies to successfully expand localized pilot programs into system-wide solutions. Moderated by André Picard, health columnist with The Globe and Mail, the session will showcase impactful case studies and actionable best practices for turning innovation into improved health outcomes.

Proudly supported by UCB Canada and the Arthritis Society Canada.

Digital health innovation often emerges from research labs and policy tables, but some of the most impactful solutions begin at the community level, in response to real-world needs. Across Canada, clinicians, Indigenous leaders, health organizations, and local changemakers are designing and deploying digital tools that are improving care in rural, remote, and underserved settings. These efforts reflect a growing global movement toward more equitable, locally driven models of care. This session explores how community-driven innovation is advancing Connected Care and why equity, cultural relevance, and local leadership are essential for long-term success. We’ll spotlight real-world stories from across the country, including initiatives supported by Canada Health Infoway’s Connected Care Innovation Grant, delivered through the Centre for Clinical Innovation in Digital Health (CIDH). From EMS systems to Indigenous health centres, these projects demonstrate what’s possible when innovation is co-designed with communities, not just for them.

What You’ll Learn

• How community-led digital health innovation is improving care in underserved settings
• Why equity, cultural relevance, and local leadership are critical to digital health success
• Insights from CIDH-supported Connected Care Innovation Grant projects
• How grassroots innovation can shape broader system strategies  

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