We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded the Connected Care Innovation Grant by the Canada Health Infoway Centre for Clinical Innovation in Digital Health. The Grant will support the launch of our project, Physician Engagement for First Nations Provincial Digital Health Record Integration. This initiative is a critical step toward ensuring First Nations-led primary care centers have access to a user-centered, culturally safe Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system.
The project aims to engage physicians working in First Nations communities, gathering their insights and feedback to inform the design and implementation of a provincial EMR system. This system will be shared across 15 First Nations Health Centres and First Nations Health Service Organizations, providing integrated access to patient health data and empowering communities with greater control over their health information.
The project has several key goals:
Engage Physicians in EMR Design
- Conduct focused sessions to gather feedback on system design, functionality, and usability.
- Ensure physician input shapes the EMR, creating a solution that meets the unique needs of First Nations healthcare providers.
Enhance Clinical Adoption- Support and facilitate seamless EMR adoption
- Address challenges contributing to low clinical utilization
Improve Care Coordination- Foster better communication among healthcare providers with shared access to patient information.
- Incorporate Indigenous perspectives to support culturally safe care delivery.
Empower Health Data Autonomy- Provide First Nations communities with secure access to their health data, aligned with cultural values.
- Enable informed decision-making for better health outcomes.
Support Medical Staff Recruitment and Retention- Develop a user-friendly EMR system that reduces administrative burdens.
- Offer a modern digital tool that enhances the working experience for healthcare providers in rural and remote communities.
Why does this matter?
This project is about more than just technology—it's about empowering First Nations communities to take control of their health data and ensuring healthcare providers have the tools they need to deliver culturally safe, effective care. By integrating Indigenous perspectives and traditional practices, we're building a system that truly reflects the needs of First Nations communities.
The grant will provide crucial financial support that enables the project to fully engage with physicians and healthcare providers across First Nations communities. Specifically, it will allow us to:
- Facilitate Comprehensive Physician Engagement: The grant will fund focus groups, workshops, and individual consultations with physicians, ensuring their input directly informs the development of the provincial digital health record system. This engagement is vital for creating a user-centered solution that meets First Nations healthcare providers' unique needs.
- Enhance System Design and Adoption: By compensating physician stakeholders for their time and expertise, the grant ensures that the provincial digital health record system is designed with end-users in mind and gains higher clinical adoption rates. This is essential for realizing the system's full benefits, such as improved care coordination and data sharing.
- Support Training and Implementation: The grant will also fund the development of tailored training programs and support resources. These resources will help healthcare providers use the new system effectively, reducing barriers to adoption and ensuring a smoother transition to the digital health record system across First Nations health facilities.
- Promote Interoperability and Equity: The project aims to build a system that supports interoperability across different care settings while respecting Indigenous data sovereignty by integrating feedback from First Nations healthcare providers. The grant ensures that this system will be a model for how culturally safe, equitable digital health solutions can be developed and implemented, not just in First Nations communities but across Canada.
Overall, the grant is pivotal in enabling the project to achieve its goals of creating a responsive, user-driven digital health record system that enhances healthcare delivery and supports the unique needs of First Nations communities.
We are grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the transformation of Canada's healthcare system by advancing digital health interoperability.
You can find more info about the grant at the Canada Health Infoway website.
