Celebrating Digital Health Week
Let’s Celebrate Digital Health! Digital Health Week, November 18th – 24th, is the annual celebration and recognition of how digital health is transforming the delivery of care across Canada.
Have you heard about the WHRI/BCCHR Digital Health Research Program? We are a joint program being led collaboratively by the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) and the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI). We aim to increase equitable access to high-quality care using digital technology and support the goals of the BC Digital Health Strategy.
Our highlights in 2023 -2024
PHSA AI in Research Working Group
Starting at C&W in 2023, we established a PHSA Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Research Working Group (AIR-WG) with members representing a diverse range of partners and interested parties. This group provides thought leadership and guidance on new developments, opportunities, and risks related to AI use by investigators, trainees, and staff to all members of the PHSA research community. We serve as a forum for diverse parties involved and interested in developing or using AI in a research setting to come together in the spirit of learning, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.
This year, we have developed a guidance to support safe and responsible use of generative AI (genAI) as a tool to enable research work and complete research tasks. Check out the genAI use cases examples to see the potential benefits and risks of using genAI as a tool to complete research tasks!
Do you have Digital Health Research AI-related questions? Contact us! AI in Research Working Group
C&W Digital Health Survey
In December 2023, we launched a new Digital Health Survey to gain a deeper understanding of the current scope of digital health research at C&W being led by institutional investigators and trainees. This was followed by one-on-one semi-structured interviews to further explore their goals, clinical impact, barriers, enablers, and instances of self-censorship. See our qualitative and quantitative findings by visiting our digital health hub!
C&W DHR Learning Corner
In July 2023, we restarted our C&W Digital Health Research Virtual Learning Series, and expanded our subscribers by 100% compared to previous years. This series is to better support our investigators and trainees working on digital health projects to improve the health of children, women, and other marginalized genders.
It is for researchers, care providers, and other partners interested in incorporating digital technologies in a health intervention or health systems process and aims to equip learners to succeed – from project initiation through to implementation. Watch our past sessions on AI, VR, and Data by visiting our learning corner!
BCCHR & WHRI Digital Accelerator Grant Impact
Meet the WHRI members who were recipients of the BCCHR & WHRI Digital Accelerator Grants and learn how they are leading innovative change in digital health.
Dr. Patricia Janssen
Have you heard about the SmartParent project, developed by C&W Digital Health Research Accelerator Grant recipient, Dr. Patricia Janssen? It’s an innovative text messaging program that provides parents with essential information on infant feeding, development, screening, immunizations, and more! With the support of BC Health Authorities, the project has now scaled up across BC and reached thousands of parents!
Dr. Tim Oberlander
Did you know that C&W Digital Health Research Accelerator Grant recipient, Dr. Tim Oberlander and his team have collaborated with children experiencing chronic pain and their caregivers to develop a mobile app that visualizes children’s pain symptoms and experiences? Through this innovative approach, children have gained a better understanding of their condition using visual information.
Dr. Sandesh Shivananda
Did you know that premature babies in the NICU have their vital signs monitored continuously, but this data isn’t always summarized for optimal care? C&W Digital Health Research Accelerator Grant recipient, Dr. Sandesh Shivananda and his team are developing smart tech to create daily wellness overviews from these vital signs, helping care teams and parents better understand their baby’s health and adjust therapies more effectively
Dr. Emily Kieran and Dr. David Wensley
Did you know babies in the NICU are at risk of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), impacting their development? Current testing like Polysomnography (PSG) has long wait times, but C&W Digital Health Research Accelerator Grant recipients, Dr. David Wensley and Dr. Emily Kieran are exploring using portable pulse oximeters for quicker SDB screening and follow-up care!
Did you know?
- 88% of Canadians say accessing their personal health information online would enable them to better manage their health.
- 81% of Canadians report interest in accessing their own personal health information electronically.
- 39% of Canadians say they have accessed their personal health information online – a significant increase annually compared to 27% having done so in 2020.
- 4 in 5 Canadians agree their health information should be electronically shared among all healthcare practitioners.
- 3 in 5 Canadians would be comfortable with scientists using personal health data for AI research. We are proud to be a Digital Health Week Participating Organization. We hope you will join us to celebrate Canada’s progress and show your support for digital health.
Explore digital health
Stay connected and explore Digital Health by following these accounts: