Everyone in Canada wants and deserves excellence in healthcare, but that is not the reality for all. Access to quality care is uneven; health outcomes vary even more widely. And great ideas for addressing these challenges often get stuck as pilot projects, benefiting only the lucky people in the organization or region served by the initial innovator. While that doesn’t have to be the case, it’s also true that safer, higher quality care at scale doesn’t just happen. Smart approaches that move wise practice from spread to scale – and build resilience in the health sector – will be key to health system transformation as we move beyond the current phase of the pandemic. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated and expanded change within Alberta Health Services (AHS) and other healthcare systems across Canada. But what happens when the pandemic is over? In her 30-minute presentation, Dr. Yiu envisions a new healthcare system for the post-pandemic world. She will discuss how change can transform the delivery of continuing, acute and community-based care, and how virtual health and the use of data/analytics could be two drivers of this change. If health leaders can build upon the momentum for innovation built during the pandemic, Dr. Yiu believes Canadians will benefit from improved access to care through health systems that are better designed for the 21st century.  

The pandemic has served as a catalyst for the rapid acceleration of innovative healthcare tools and solutions in Canada. TELUS Health’s Juggy Sihota, Vice-President of Consumer Health and Diane McIntosh, Chief Neuroscience Officer, share their perspectives on why sustaining this momentum will be critical to addressing both the immediate and long-term challenges facing Canada’s healthcare system. 

@telushealth

@juggysihota

@drdianemcintosh

The way in which BC’s health system is organized plays a significant role in pandemic preparedness, response and recovery. Integrated health system responses are critical in preparing for and responding to outbreaks in high-risk settings and protecting acute care capacity. Regional structures and processes enable rapid decision-making and mobilization of resources, and partnerships protect some of the most vulnerable populations. Our structure has varying strengths and weaknesses, but in this instance is beneficial in coordination, standardization and comprehensiveness.

The face of leadership in digital health is changing. Why? Because digital needs to respond to changing patient and health workforce demands, and that requires leaders who are sensitive to and reflective of these shifts. During this panel, we will discuss the most pressing issues facing digital health leaders today, skills and capabilities needed to lead digital health, and what everyone can do to drive more diversity in the digital health workforce to respond to the changing healthcare landscape.