Longwoods Healthcare Services Radio

In this episode, the discussion examines whether Prime Minister Mark Carney's 2025 pledge to “build a stronger Canadian health care system” can be trusted—exploring provincial budget limits, public appetite for targeted healthcare spending, and the trade-offs between building hospitals, hiring doctors, and strengthening community care to unclog emergency departments. The episode outlines the signals to watch (large federal–provincial funding deals versus stricter Canada Health Act enforcement), argues for nuanced, value-driven investments rather than headline splurges, and urges listeners to research party promises and vote with healthcare in mind. This recording uses AI voice technology and is not Jason M. Sutherland.

Healthcare Policy / Politiques de Santé is a peer‑reviewed academic journal published by Longwoods Publishing in Canada. Focusing on healthcare policy research and policy translation, with an emphasis on issues relevant to health systems, governance, financing, and service delivery, particularly in Canada but with international relevance as well.   Join Jason Sutherland, Editor-in-Chief for Healthcare Policy as he discusses the requirements and wants and needs to have your manuscript published.   

Canada’s progress toward a fully connected health system is measured not just in policies and plans but in how systems actually work together. Projectathons are where that vision is put to the test – structured, non-competitive events that bring together vendors, jurisdictions, and clinical leaders to validate whether digital health solutions can exchange information securely and consistently across the country. A prime example of a Projectathon tested standard is the Pan-Canadian Patient Summary (PS-CA) specification, which defines a common way to capture and share essential health information, medications, allergies, immunizations, and more, so it can travel with patients throughout their care journey. By testing against PS-CA, vendors and jurisdictions prove their systems can create and consume a standardized summary directly within clinical workflows, ensuring that vital health information is available whenever and wherever it is needed. This session will explore how Projectathons accelerate standards adoption, identify issues early, and give governments, vendors, and providers confidence that solutions are ready for care settings. We’ll reflect on lessons learned from Canadian and international events and preview what’s next, including the upcoming Canadian Projectathon. It’s a fitting finale: a look back at progress and a look forward to how innovation is tested, refined, and accelerated in the real world. Featured Speakers: Allana Cameron, Product Director for the Patient Summary, Canada Health Infoway, Daniel Berezeanu, Product Manager, IHE Catalyst, Brandon Blanck, President and CEO, Healthquest and Moderator: Edwin White Chacon, Manager, Enablement Services, Canada Health Infoway

A connected health system cannot be built within technological silos or fragmented partnerships. It requires sustained collaboration across government, industry, clinical leaders, patients and communities, and many more, who share a vision for more modern, efficient, and collaborative care. This session will explore how strategic public-private partnerships are accelerating Canada’s digital health transformation, while also helping to address long-standing challenges such as data fragmentation, clinician burden, and scaling digital pilots into sustainable system-wide solutions. At the heart of the discussion is Canada Health Infoway’s Vendor Innovation Program (VIP), a national initiative that supports vendors in developing solutions that are standards-based, clinically grounded, and ready to scale. Featured Speakers: Ashley Miller, Chief Medical Information Officer, Nova Scotia Health & IWK Health, Mike Forseth, Chief Executive Officer, Ava, Darek Szadkowski, Vice President of Strategy, Programs, and Partnerships, Canada Health Infoway and Moderator: Edwin White Chacon, Manager, Enablement Services, Canada Health Infoway   

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. Featured Speakers This session features leaders and builders advancing next-generation interoperability frameworks: Dr. Ed Brown, Advisor, Canada Health Infoway  Amanda Gray, Senior Executive Director, Enterprise Architecture, Strategic Platforms & Solutions, Provincial Health Services Authority, British Columbia Moe Fawal, Director, Product Management and Delivery - Virtual Care, Ontario Health

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. Featured Speakers This session brings together leaders and innovators working at the intersection of equity, access, and technology: Dr. Rashaad Bhyat, Senior Clinical Leader, Canada Health Infoway Dr. Dan Pepe, Family Physician, Digital Health Innovator, and 2024/25 CIDH Grant Recipient, Self-Service Primary Care Dr. Ivar Mendez, Professor Emeritus of Neurosurgery, Director of the Saskatchewan Virtual Health Hub and Director of the Virtual Care and Remote Presence Robotics Program at the University of Saskatchewan Dr. Salim Samanani, CEO and Medical Director, OKAKI; Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health, University of Alberta

Explore how AI-powered scribe tools are easing clinicians’ documentation burden, improving care workflows, and giving time back to patients through responsible, real-world integration. Speakers Dr. Rashaad Bhyat, Senior Clinical Leader, Canada Health Infoway   Dr. Eileen Lynn McCallum, Primary Care Physician, Enhance Health Medical in Edmonton  Dr. Jaron Easterbrook, Co-chair of the Information Sharing Task Group, Doctors of BC  Moderator: Edwin White Chacon, Manager, Enablement Services, Canada Health Infoway 

Over the past thirty years, groundbreaking innovations have saved and transformed thousands of lives of Canadians with cancer. Immunotherapies and precision medicines in particular have made huge strides for many cancer types, including lung, prostate and melanoma, sometimes turning a diagnosis people dread into something that requires less invasive treatments. However, some cancer types are far more difficult to treat: they are particularly aggressive and very hard to eradicate, including rare lung tumours, glioblastoma, as well as pancreatic, liver and gynecological cancers. Other countries have dedicated research programs for hard-to-treat cancers, while the world’s top medical centres are developing new diagnostics and medicines, often using tried-and-true therapeutics combined with new treatments. What can Canadian researchers, clinicians, cancer agencies and patient leaders do differently to shift the survival curves and help cancer patients live longer and with a better quality of life?    Featuring: Robert Bick, Co-Lead, Health Policy Consultant, CanCertainty Anita Angelini, Vice Chair, Brain Cancer Canada Dr. Rodney Ouellette, Sr. Researcher, Founder, Atlantic Cancer Research Institute Dr. Barbara-Ann Millar, Radiation Oncologist, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Moderator: Fred Horne, Policy Consultant Brain Cancer Canada and Novocure are pleased to participate in this Longwoods Leadership Discussion

Canadian provinces are struggling with affordability, access and equity as populations age and demand rises. This episode compares Canada’s provincial systems with Australia’s states, highlighting Australia’s stronger performance on equity and health outcomes and examining how private insurance operates alongside public medicare. The authors call for low‑cost, high‑impact collaboration: federal‑led comparative analyses, data sharing, personnel exchanges and joint research to identify adaptable policies and practices that improve primary care access, reduce fragmentation and address inequities in both countries. Healthcare Policy, Volume 20, Issue 4, August 2025 Authors:  Michael Pervan, Chief Executive Officer, Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority, Sydney, Australia Jason M. Sutherland, Phd, Editor-in-Chief, Director, Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC This podcast was created using an AI generated voice. 

The Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centre (RC VTAC) is an innovative, collaborative healthcare program launched in 2020 to provide timely, rural-focused care, connecting patients with virtual or in-person support from family doctors and paramedics, reducing ED visits, and managing non-urgent needs, acting as a crucial link for residents without regular primary care.   Featuring: Robert McKay, Practice Leader, Healthcare Delivery, IQVIA Dr. Jonathan Fitzsimon, Family Physician, Medical Lead, Renfrew County Virtual Triage and Assessment Centres

How Can We Better Protect Older Canadians – A Booster Shot for Canada’s Vaccine Policies With Canada’s age demographics continuously shifting, policymakers and science hubs have invested in strategies that can better serve our social, economic, and healthcare infrastructures. This session will focus on the latter, highlighting recent advancements for optimizing infectious disease mitigation through vaccination, and deconstructing the necessary strategies to bolster healthy aging via immunization. With vaccination as a cornerstone for public health, this dynamic and engaging panel of global experts will discuss where we stand in Canada regarding the current state of vaccine uptake, knowledge dissemination and vaccine education, and the potential future of precision immunization. Participants will gain insights into how policy developments and innovative strategies can drive these advancements and their impact on our public healthcare system. Featuring Dr. Ronald F. Grossman, Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto Laura Tamblyn-Watts, CEO, CanAge, Jennifer Chan, Executive Director, Policy and Government Affairs, Merck Canada Moderator: Bill Dempster, President, 3Sixty Public Affairs

Ontario faces a significant challenge: 2.5 million Ontarians do not have a family doctor or any other access to primary care, and that number is projected to grow to 4.4 million people in 2026. This challenge is even greater for people in Ontario living with complex, difficult to manage chronic diseases as they struggle to access the comprehensive, team-based care they need, close to home and in communities. The journey of health system transformation requires the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative models of team-based care. This panel discussion will explore tangible solutions to achieve Ontario’s ambitious goal of connecting every Ontarian with team-based primary care within five years. We will examine the success of exemplar models like Best Care, a physician-led integrated chronic disease management program that has avoided up to 24000 hospital bed days over three years, saving the health system more than $37 million in hospitalization costs. Access to team-based primary care for effective chronic disease management is how Ontario can improve patient experience and outcomes, improve the provider experience and create millions of dollars in savings across the continuum of care. This event is supported by Best Care who aspires to set Ontario Health on a path to improve lives of those living with chronic diseases and reduce the health system costs. Information on Best Care can be found at www.argi.on.ca Featuring Dr. Christopher Licskai, CEO, Best Care Kimberly Moran, CEO, Ontario Medical Association Wendy Smith, Executive Director, Nipissing Wellness Ontario Health Team Moderator: Dr. Cathy Faulds, Board Chair, Best Care and Ontario Medical Association

The Canadian Thoracic Society COPD Guidelines were updated in the Fall of 2023. The evidence based recommendations represent a significant change in the pharmacological management of COPD when compared to the previous versions. They represent a pro-active management approach to improve quality of life, reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations and reduce the mortality associated with COPD. In this seminar, an update will be provided as to the new guidance and a discussion on the need for provincial formularies to reassess how patients and physicians access COPD specific medications.   Featuring: Dr. Paul Hernandez, Respirologist and Professor, Dalhousie University Dr. Jean Bourbeau, Pulmonologist and Professor, McGill University Dr. Brandie Walker, University of Calgary Moderator: Dr. Mohit Bhutani, Director, Asthma and COPD Clinics, University of Alberta

Artificial Intelligence (AI) can introduce clarity to the clinical journey for the most-challenging diseases and treatment pathways.  AI brings power to consume large disparate data sets and transform information into succinct, actionable insights with the power to identify opportunities to reduce avoidable costs, predict medical events, and, ultimately, improve patient care. But developing, implementing, and interpreting to drive actionable results can be challenging without the right data, the right process, and the right actions to be successful. This session will focus on approaches for clinical decision support and identifying opportunities to engage providers with actionable care gaps aligned to best-practice guidelines. Featuring: Helen Angus, CEO, AMS Healthcare Matthew Hackenberg, Associate Product and Strategy Director, AI for Healthcare, IQVIA

Gene therapy has emerged as an exciting innovation for Canadians with rare diseases. As more gene therapy treatments gain approval in Canada, there is promise for transforming and advancing healthcare, especially in areas of high unmet need. Access to those new therapies, however, remains challenging. Join us to discover the untapped potential of gene therapy in Canada as this panel of experts addresses the barriers to access and explores innovative solutions to overcome them, ensuring every Canadian who needs it can access gene therapy with timely, equitable, and effective delivery.  Featuring: Durhane Wong-Rieger, President and CEO, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders Dr. Jerry Teitel, Medical Director, Hemophilia Treatment Centre·St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto David Page, Consultant, Safety and Supply of Coagulation Products, Canadian Hemophilia Society Graham Statt, Former Assistant Deputy Minister, Alberta Moderator: Carly Weeks, VP, Public Affairs, Communications and Stakeholder Relations, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Ontario healthcare landscape. There was a time when Canadians could confidently claim theirs was the best health system in the world. Time to face reality – that is no longer true. The system faces major challenges, with access to care at the top of the list of concerns. Despite spending more on healthcare than most developed countries, we struggle to create enough capacity to meet the needs of a rapidly growing and aging population. What can we do to break out of this chronic decline and bring back a sense of vibrancy and optimism to the healthcare enterprise? Brian and Michael will discuss current trends and new ideas with the potential to change the narrative and address the explosive growth in the seniors demographic that is already upon us. There is lots to be optimistic about, if you know where to look. We need to think differently to create a different dynamic. Featuring: Brian Golden, Sandra Rotman Chair in Health Sector Strategy, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto Dr. Michael Guerriere, President and Chief Executive Officer, Extendicare

Insights on the struggles of life limiting experiences and understanding end-of-life care for patients, care providers and medical professionals. Patients and their caregivers require physical and emotional care, especially as they enter the later stages of life. Failure to attend to personhood can be as subtle as being kept waiting for an appointment, as insidious as being required to wear a plastic hospital bracelet that tracks patients according to an institutional number or code, as jarring as being referred to as an aberrant body part - the proverbial "GI bleed in room two" or "breast tumor in room three." This conversation on Dignity in Care will describe what healthcare providers need to know about the humanity and tone of care; and how they can engage in these facets of care in a thoughtful and meaningful way that will satisfy their patients' needs to be seen and appreciated as "whole persons." Featuring Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and a Senior Scientist, CancerCare Manitoba Research Institute and Nancy Lefebre, Senior Vice President and COO for the Business of Caring, SE Health

After decades of research and innovation, cell and gene therapies (CGTs) are unlocking new ways to revolutionize medicine. Distinct from traditional pharmaceutical treatments, CGTs represent highly precise and innovative approaches that target the underlying causes of genetic and acquired diseases with the aim of treating, preventing and potentially curing disease. Over the past few years, we’ve seen the positive impact that CGTs such as CAR T-cell therapy – a blood cancer treatment that modifies T cells to target and eliminate cancer cells – have had on Canadians. With thousands of CGTs in development to treat diseases from cancers to rare disorders to type 1 diabetes and chronic heart failure, the novelty and highly technical nature of these therapies create new opportunities for improved health outcomes for Canadians, but successful integration will require a new playbook from those who assess, deliver and receive care. From regulation to health technology assessments, reimbursement and education, we must ensure that our health systems are prepared to integrate these new innovations so that Canadians have access to potentially life changing treatments. This Longwoods Leadership Discussion is funded by The Cell and Gene Therapy Round Table, a group of Canadian pharmaceutical companies interested in policies related to cell and gene therapies. Featuring: Dr. Bob Bell, Former Deputy Minister of Health, Ontario, Dean Duffin, Patient Advocate and Kids Cancer Care Board Member, Dr. Ronan Foley, Clinical Hematologist, Juravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton Health Sciences, Dr. Elise Héon, Staff Director, Ocular Genetics Program Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children and Moderator: Avis Favaro, Health Journalist

Featuring: Kimberley Hanson, Chief Executive Officer, HealthPartners Dr. David M. Kaplan, Vice President, Quality, Ontario Health Dr. Karen Cross, Chief Executive Officer, MIMOSA Diagnostics Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe, Senior Scientist, Women's College Hospital Research Institute Amir Naseri, Senior Director, Pharmacy Services Strategy & Innovation Shoppers Drug Mart Moderator: Dr. Tamara Wallington, Chief Health Promotion and Environmental Health Officer, Public Health Ontario Improving the Prevention, Management, and Treatment of Diabetes and Other Chronic Diseases in Ontario In Ontario, diabetes affects 1 in 3 people and contributes to 30% of strokes, 40% of heart attacks, 50% of kidney failure requiring dialysis, and 70% of all non-traumatic lower limb amputations. It is also a leading cause of blindness. The toll on patients and caregivers is significant as is the impact on the healthcare system and economy. In November of 2020, Longwoods hosted an event Diabetes Care and Management for Ontario focusing on the need for more to be done to support people in Ontario living with diabetes. The following year, the Ministry of Health’s 2022/23 mandate to Ontario Health directed the agency to “work in partnership with the Ministry of Health to develop a chronic disease strategy addressing prevention, management and treatment, with an initial focus on diabetes.” This mandate was renewed in 2023/24 with an added emphasis to complete the development and proceed with implementation of the strategy. In parallel to the commitment made by the Ontario government, in October 2022 the federal government tabled the Diabetes Framework, another important step in the journey to reduce the rising rates of the diabetes epidemic. We are now at a pivotal time with government commitments being made to reduce the rates of the disease and the unsustainable burden it places on our province, population, and health system. Our panel of thought leaders and healthcare experts will reflect on the current state of diabetes in Ontario and the plan moving forward to develop and implementation a provincial strategy. #diabetes #diabetescare #novonordisk #chronicdisease #healthcare #healthcanada #longwoods #diabetestreatment #diabetesmanagement #diabetesprevention

Leigh Chapman, Chief Nursing Officer, Health Canada with Tim Guest, CEO, Canadian Nurses Association and Carly Weeks, Health Reporter, The Globe and Mail discuss why Retention is critical to today’s health workforce challenges in the context of a global nursing shortage. This title “You can’t recruit your way out of a crisis” follows the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Congress, co-hosted by the CNA in Montreal, July 2023. The issue of the global nursing shortage was brought to the forefront as one of the most prominent issues in today’s global health landscape. In this talk, these nurse leaders will cover current issues, and strategic solutions for the future of nursing. With a focus on how we got here, and where we’re going, the discussion topics will include retention, ethical recruitment, and improving work environments for nurses. The speakers will also highlight their hopes for the future of nursing and Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system.

The Ontario Long Term Care Association represents 70% of Ontario's long-term care homes.  In four years, the oldest of the baby boomers’ generation will turn 80. By 2040, Ontario’s population over that age will nearly double. Listen to today's conversation with Donna Duncan, CEO for the Ontario Long Term Care Association as we discuss this issue and many more.   

Phyxable – a world-class virtual care provider – and its partners, Micron Digital and Wizcraft Design Build Inc., have been selected by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) as one of five Canadian companies to contribute to its “Health Beyond Initiative” for 2023.   By initiating a leading role in deep-space healthcare innovation, Canada can position itself on the international stage as a pioneer in the delivery of remote healthcare and, thereby, in the development of resources and technologies that can be used in deep space and in remote or rural areas on Earth. Healthcare strategies and technologies developed to support crew members on deep-space missions could be used to empower healthcare providers serving those in remote regions. Considering the needs of healthcare delivery in deep space and remote regions are in many ways comparable, it can be expected that their solutions will likely overlap. The lessons learned from healthcare projects in deep space can be adapted to remote healthcare delivery for underserved populations. These healthcare innovations have the potential to be radically transformative for national healthcare delivery, lowering costs, and improving health outcomes for all.

More than 150 certified respiratory educators, respirologists, allergists, general practitioners/family physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory therapists from across the country participated in the first Canadian stakeholder consensus to lay out a path for high-quality respiratory care for Canadians.  With health systems across the country experiencing challenges, Canadians are struggling to access respiratory care, impacting their ability to control their symptoms, adding more pressure on an already strained acute care system. The cost of asthma to the Canadian economy is expected to climb to $4.2 billion annually by 2030.  Recommendations from the study present policy makers with a road map and best practices to improve the quality of care, resulting in improved outcomes, quality of life and patient experience for Canadians living with severe asthma and their caregivers.  Concerted action from policy makers and health system leaders will ensure all Canadians living with asthma have access to the quality and timely care they need.   Featuring: Moderator: Carly Weeks, Health Reporter, The Globe and Mail Dr. Christopher Licskai, Respirologist, Professor of Medicine, Professor of Health System Innovation, and Clinician Scientist Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine Dr. Samir Gupta, Respirologist and Clinician-Scientist, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital Dr. Mohit Bhutani, Professor of Medicine, University of Alberta Ian Fearon, Patient Representative

Following three years of pandemic, Ontario children faced escalating waits for medically necessary care. In most communities they wait longer than adults, often impacting their development and always impacting their families. In response, the Ontario government made an historic investment of $330M this year to help pediatric hospitals, mental health agencies and rehabilitation centres permanently increase their capacity to help address the needs of a growing population of children and youth. Join us for a discussion with pediatric leaders about the road ahead and why it matters for kids, their families, and the entire health system.  Alex Munter, President & CEO, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Jennifer Churchill, CEO, Empowered Kids Ontario-EnfantsAvenir Ontario (EKO) Julia Hanigsberg, President and CEO Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Dr. Ronald Cohn, President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) Bruce Squires, President, McMaster Children's Hospital and VP, Women's and Children's Health Tatum Wilson, CEO, Children’s Mental Health Ontario Nash Syed, President, Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre Moderated by Matthew Hart, CEO, Longwoods

The healthcare system is in crisis, with access appearing to be at an all-time low due to increased demand and reduced supply. There is an urgent need, particularly in primary care, to create evidence-informed, value-based strategies that improve efficiency and enhance care. First Contact Physiotherapy (FCP) is one solution that focuses on integrating physiotherapists into primary and community care to increase access to both prevention and rehabilitation services, and thereby diverting demand from primary care physicians. The evidence for FCP will be presented along with the status of initiatives and structural barriers that need to be removed to facilitate improved access to essential primary care.  Featuring: Courtney Bean, Vice President, Strategic Solutions and Partnerships, VHA Home HealthCare Jordan Miller, Assistant Professor and Associate Director (Physical Therapy), School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University Susan Robarts, Robarts Healthcare Consulting Emily Stevenson, Registered Physiotherapist, Associate Director of Community Rehabilitation, West Toronto Community Health Services Dr. Jeffrey Gollish, Former Medical Director and Head of Arthroplasty, Sunnybrook Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre Dr. Wendell Block, Locum MD, Gateway CHC (Semi-Retired)  

In today’s turbulent healthcare sector, significant macro-level trends are impacting the health and wellbeing of our doctors, nurses, and support staff. Of all the headwinds straining the physician’s ability to deliver high quality care, physician burnout is the common thread that ties them together. During the pandemic, Canadian physicians faced an unprecedented surge in demand and stress, resulting in a significant increase in burnout rates that have permeated various aspects of their lives. Join us for an insightful discussion featuring Dr. Nadia Alam and Sarah Wilkinson, CEO of Dr.Bill, a medical billing platform, as they explore the potential of simplified billing in alleviating physician burnout. Learn how innovative billing solutions can effectively mitigate administrative burdens, enabling medical professionals to dedicate more time to their vital work and ensure timely compensation. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to support physicians to ensure they can deliver the best care to their patients.   Featuring: Sarah Wilkinson, CEO, Dr.Bill and Dr. Nadia Alam, Family Physician, Past President, Ontario Medical Association

The Future of Technology Enabled Healthcare Work Featuring: Helen Angus, CEO, AMS Healthcare Cameron Love, CEO, The Ottawa Hospital Helen Angus and Cameron Love discuss the just released McMaster Forum Deliberative Dialogue on the future of technology enabled healthcare work. In their conversation, they will examine ways to plan for the future, barriers and facilitators and important next steps. They will also share key learnings from the recent AMS Healthcare Invitational Conference on what is required of leadership to move this critical issue forward. 

Dr. Kevin Smith, President and CEO, University Health Network, Dr. Kathryn Nichol, President and CEO, VHA Home HealthCare, Carolyn Gosse, Vice President, Clinical, UHN at Home and Seniors Care and Courtney Bean, Vice President, Strategic Solutions and Partnerships, VHA Home HealthCare University Health Network (UHN), a health system in Canada’s largest urban centre, launched a new model of care to improve the care experience with a focus on integrating all aspects of care whether in or outside of a hospital. This Program is developed and delivered in partnership with VHA Home HealthCare (VHA) as lead agency, home care provider, and collaborative partner to improve patient experience and outcomes across the patient journey. The Program launched rapidly with great results serving +13,000 patients. This presentation will highlight how trust, effective governance and the shared commitment of leadership helped navigate challenges and build collaboration to transform how patient care is delivered in Ontario.

Longwoods Leadership Discussion with Dr. Chris Hayes, Chief Information Officer, Trillium Health Partners. Joy in Work: Nicety or Necessity The predicted shortage of the healthcare workforce has reached a crisis state. National and provincial agencies are advocating for greater resources and new strategies to close the gap required to deliver healthcare services to Canadians. However, most of these recommendations are aimed at increased funding to augment recruitment and clear healthcare need backlogs. Although retention strategies are included, they do not address the fact that the work environment is a local issue, one that healthcare organizations need to address with local strategies. This discussion will focus on the need for and methods to improve local sense of meaning and purpose, reduced burden and increased joy in work.   #healthcare #humanresources #healthhumanresources #hhr #workforce #healthcareworker #hrstrategy #organizationalchange

Healthcare is at the tipping point (finally) of going "Omnichannel". This means organizations and clinicians design and deliver care models that enable patients to access services (and the clinicians who deliver the care) at the most appropriate time and setting—whether virtual or in-person—across unified care delivery & administrative workflows, and a unified patient experience. The concept of “care, anywhere” has been talked about for decades in Canada. Hear this case study on integration and how it is NOW possible, at scale, for any care setting, clinical context or acuity level. Featuring: Zayna Khayat, VP, Client Success & Growth, Teladoc Health Tim Wright, SVP, Strategic Partnerships, Teladoc Health Peter Jones, Industry Lead – Canadian Healthcare, Microsoft Canada Co. Kim Swafford, Healthcare Industry Leader on the World Wide Commercial Team, Microsoft

As pressures mount in healthcare settings across the country, how can we shift the financing and delivery of continuing care to better support older Canadians to live and age at home and in their communities? This Longwoods Breakfast briefing will explore how we can leverage evidence, experience, expertise and values to rebalance care, drive transformative change, and close the gap between current reality and what longstanding evidence tells us the health system needs. Join SE Health’s new President and CEO John Yip, in conversation with researchers Justine Giosa and Paul Holyoke, as they highlight an emerging impact-oriented model of ‘long-term life care at home’, informed by big data and input from aging Canadians, health and social care providers, system leaders, researchers and policymakers.   Featuring: John Yip, President and CEO, SE Health Justine Giosa, PhD, Managing Director, SE Research Centre Paul Holyoke, PhD, Executive Director, SE Research Centre

Featuring: Moderator: Dr. Robert Bell Panelists: Sara Allin, Associate Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation Darran Fischer, Managing Director, Philips Canada Kiersten Combs, Country President – Canada, AstraZeneca Dr. Leigh Chapman, Chief Nursing Officer of Canada   Our healthcare system is facing a critical moment as we rebuild from the pandemic. What have we learned about our healthcare system in response to the stress it faced? How should we approach building a better healthcare system that is both resilient to future crises and sustainable in the face of long-term stresses? The Partnership for Health Sustainability and Resilience, founded by AstraZeneca, the World Economic Forum and the London School of Economics is launching a Canadian report in partnership with Sara Allin, Associate Professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) at the University of Toronto. The report will assess Canada’s health systems across seven key domains: financing; governance; workforce; medicines and technology; service delivery; population health; and environmental sustainability, in order to identify strengths, potential weaknesses, opportunities and risks. We look forward to seeing the results of the report and discussing the key takeaways for Canada’s healthcare systems.

Falling through the Cracks: Missed Vaccines are Putting our Kids at Increased Risk of Cancer and Meningitis The COVID-19 pandemic created a crisis in delivering routine and school-based vaccinations to school-age children, resulting in delayed and missed vaccinations for many children across the country. This is putting children at risk of preventable diseases, such as meningitis as well as human papillomavirus (HPV), which could lead to increased risk of cancer later in life. What is the extent of the problem and what are governments and public health agencies doing to catch-up on missed vaccinations? Join us for a discussion with clinicians and public health experts for how this issue has particularly impacted Ontario and what they think needs to be done to address the problem. Featuring: Moderator: Kelly Grant, The Globe and Mail Panelists: Dr. Vivien Brown, Family Physician, Chair of the HPV Immunization Task Force, Board Member of Immunize Canada Liz Elwood, Cervical Cancer Survivor Dr. Chloé Rozon, OBGYN Medical Resident, The Ottawa Hospital Dr. Vinita Dubey, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Toronto Public Health

Stranger in a Strange Land: Moving from Toronto’s Hospital Row to PEI The healthcare systems in downtown Toronto versus PEI could not be further apart. In May 2021 Dr. Gardam left academia to take on the role of CEO of the PEI provincial health authority, with the intent of trying to bring complexity science-based approaches to reforming Canada’s smallest provincial healthcare system, all while still in the grip of a pandemic. Working in a small system has laid bare the acute challenges facing Canadian healthcare, and has required Dr. Gardam to dig into fundamental issues that must be addressed if PEI is going to pull their system back from the brink. Join Dr. Gardam as he discusses these challenges and how Heath PEI is attempting to fix historic barriers to improvement.

EPISODE 3 Engaging Patient Stakeholders Patient-oriented research partnerships require adequate planning, support, and funding to mobilize knowledge and accelerate impact. The following conversations, along with the Healthcare Quarterly Special Issue outline three themes that were critical for the Engaging Multi-stakeholders for Patient Oriented-research Wider Effects and Reach (EMPOWER) teams to advance patient-oriented research in Ontario. Featuring: Annette McKinnon, Member of OSSU's Patient Partner Working Group. She developed an interest in patient-partnered research as part of her journey with rheumatoid arthritis. Maureen Smith, Chair of OSSU's Patient Partner Working Group. Her interest in patient-partnered research stems from her diagnosis with a rare disease in childhood.     Moderator: Anne Wojtak, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Healthcare Quarterly; Lead, East Toronto Health Partners, Adjunct Faculty, Institute for Health Policy, Measurement and Evaluation University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

EPISODE 1  Identifying and Encouraging Patient-Oriented Research Partnerships   Patient-oriented research partnerships require adequate planning, support, and funding to mobilize knowledge and accelerate impact. The following conversations, along with the Healthcare Quarterly Special Issue outline three themes that were critical for the Engaging Multi-stakeholders for Patient Oriented-research Wider Effects and Reach (EMPOWER) teams to advance patient-oriented research in Ontario.     Featuring: Dr. Vasanthi Srinivasan, Executive Director, Ontario Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) SUPPORT Unit Dr. Dean Fergusson, Scientific Lead, Ontario Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (SPOR) SUPPORT Unit   Moderator: Anne Wojtak, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Healthcare Quarterly; Lead, East Toronto Health Partners, Adjunct Faculty, Institute for Health Policy, Measurement and Evaluation University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

EPISODE 2 Engaging the Research Community Patient-oriented research partnerships require adequate planning, support, and funding to mobilize knowledge and accelerate impact. The following conversations, along with the Healthcare Quarterly Special Issue outline three themes that were critical for the Engaging Multi-stakeholders for Patient Oriented-research Wider Effects and Reach (EMPOWER) teams to advance patient-oriented research in Ontario. Featuring: Kerry Kuluski, MWS, PhD, the Dr. Mathias Gysler research chair in Patient and Family Centred Care at the Institute for Better Health at Trillium Health Partners and associate professor at the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto in Toronto, ON.   Moderator: Anne Wojtak, Co-Editor-in-Chief, Healthcare Quarterly; Lead, East Toronto Health Partners, Adjunct Faculty, Institute for Health Policy, Measurement and Evaluation University of Toronto, Toronto, ON  

What strategies should Canadian healthcare leaders be considering when crafting their AI strategies to better benefit patients, providers, and payors? From shorter wait times to improved patient outcomes—A successful AI strategy must consider cultural, business, technological and ethical issues all while meeting a challenging climate of Canadian regulation and system complexity. Topics will include: How to Be an AI Intrapreneur in Healthcare AI Applications in Canadian Healthcare Today Best Practices in Maintaining an AI Projecting in Healthcare The AI Skills Gap and How to Address It Keynote: Helia Mohammadi, Chief Data Scientist and Healthcare Lead for Quebec and Western Canada, Microsoft Canada Moderator: Mario Voltolina, Chief Technology Officer, Canada Health Infoway Panelists: Robert Greer, Program Manager, The Hospital for Sick Children Sheela Agarwal, CMIO, Diagnostic Imaging and AI, Nuance Communications Naveen Valluri, Principal Group Manager, Health AI, Microsoft Mehdi Somji, Director, Innovation and Partnerships, Trillium Health Partners

In response to the health data challenges highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy (pCHDS) Expert Advisory Group (EAG)’s Third Report has made recommendations toward a world-class health data system. Featuring Jeff Nesbitt, CEO, Canada Health Information Management Association Dr. Ewan Affleck, Sr. Medical Advisor, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta Dr. Kim McGrail, Scientific Director, Health Data Research Network of Canada Dr. Vivek Goel, President, University of Waterloo Moderated by: Dr. David Castle, Professor, University of Victoria Moving Forward on a Pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/programs/pan-canadian-health-data-strategy.html

A Longwoods Breakfast Series discussion.  Featuring: Brian Hodges, Executive-Vice President Education and Chief Medical Officer, University Health Network David Wiljer, Executive Director of Education/Technology & Innovation for UHN Digital Gillian Strudwick, Chief Clinical Informatics Officer and Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Moderator: Will Falk, Executive in Residence at the Rotman School of Management As leaders, how do you ensure compassionate healthcare in an increasingly digital world? Is it even possible? Listen to organizational leaders and digital experts to learn what you can do to enhance compassionate quality care for patients and staff as you move your organization forward in an increasingly digital system. 

Shez Partovi, Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer, Royal Philips and Darran Fischer, Managing Director, Philips Canada A Longwoods Breakfast Series event. As we look to a post-pandemic world, healthcare industry leaders are asking themselves – how do we transform the technology we turned to in times of crisis into efficient, sustainable, secure solutions that drive quality, proactive care both within a hospital and in the community? Quality care delivered both within and beyond the hospital walls requires a range of foundational elements: informatics and data integration to deliver healthcare anywhere; interoperable, secure IT networks; and adoption of a cloud-based platform approach for flexibility and scalability. This session will discuss the need for a solid foundation on which new models of care delivery can be developed to provide connected, virtual, patient-centered care across the health continuum, bringing care closer to where patients are.

Digitally enabled community care models facilitate hospital to home patient flow. The power of digital platforms to enhance community care. Showcasing three very different stories; virtual after hours patient support program, patient engagement and remote patient monitoring program, utilizing AI to support data driven decision making for the frail and elderly. With: Judy Linton, Chief Nursing Executive, & Clinical Institutes and Quality Programs Executive Ontario Health (Clinical Institutes & Quality , David Pichora, President & CEO, Kingston Health, Larry Sylvestre, National Healthcare Leader, AWS Canada Public Sector, Elaine Meertens, Vice President, Cancer Programs at Ontario Health - Cancer Care Ontario and Moderator: André Picard, Health Columnist at The Globe and Mail

‘Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste’: Lessons Learned from a Pandemic with Dr. Kevin Smith, President and CEO, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario.  Kevin Smith will explore how the University Health Network responded to the biggest public health challenge in a century and the many lessons it revealed about healthcare.

Matthew Anderson, President and CEO for Ontario Health and Dirk Huyer, Chief Coroner for Ontario discuss; The Opioid Overdose Crisis as a Public Health Emergency: What Could We Achieve by Applying Lessons from our Pandemic Response? Opioid-related deaths have risen dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, increasing by 76% over the 12 months after implementation of public health measures. The pandemic has contributed to this rise in opioid-related deaths and has worsened the tragic impacts of the opioid overdose crisis. The pandemic has also shown us what we can accomplish when we come together to address a significant public health crisis as a unified system. This discussion outlines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on opioid-related deaths, shares examples of extraordinary efforts in Ontario’s pandemic response

Leslee Thompson, CEO, Health Standards Organization & Accreditation Canada G. Ross Baker, Emeritus Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto A dynamic, thought-provoking conversation with two leading health and healthcare experts in Quality Improvement. Drawing on lessons learned from the past, insights from the pandemic crisis and emerging trends from around the world, Leslee and Ross will dig into the realities of what it will take to improve health care quality as we move into the future. What are the new priorities for change and what are some ideas for tackling the barriers and opportunities ahead? In supporting health care leaders seeking to improve quality, what roles should governments/ government agencies, academics, the public, and Standards and Accreditation Bodies like HSO and Accreditation Canada play? This session will put the spotlight on hard realities and exciting opportunities for unleashing the next era of quality improvement, so that together we can move closer to a vision of safer care and more effective health systems.

An open discussion with the panelists as they review and comment on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in healthcare. Chaired by: Yinka Macaulay, Founder, Well Millennial and Lead, Health Equity, North York Toronto Health Partners Featuring Moderator: Ryan Hinds, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto Panelists: Dr. Rani Srivastava, Associate Professor and Dean of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University    Click here to see Dr. Rani Srivastava's presentation slides Angela Robertson, Executive Director, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre Richard Jock, Member, Mohawks of Akwesasne and Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Health Authority    Click here to see Richard Jock's presentation slides Dr. Jackie Schleifer Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer, London Health Sciences Centre Adnaan Bhyat, Healthcare Systems Strategy Specialist and Manager, Women’s College Hospital    Click here to see Adnaan Bhyat's presentation slides Systems contribute to perpetuating systemic barriers and inequity. In response to social injustices, inequitable outcomes and experiences, many organizations and leaders are making bold commitments to address systemic racism and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Advancing these commitments requires more than responding to a call to action, but also developing the efficacy on how and what is needed to change at a micro and macro level. Leaders within health and social care systems, can seek to advance organizational, structural and system change. Through examination of executive leadership within healthcare organizations across Canada, gaps exist whereby the distribution is often not reflective of the communities and populations served. To disrupt this status quo, understanding the experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) within systems and as professionals across their career trajectory as emerging, senior, and tenured leaders is needed. Amplifying the voices and perspectives of BIPOC health professionals and policy leaders. The resources to be shared are intended to shed light on levers, enablers, and action to support leadership development and organizational change through an equity lens. Through the reflections of keynote speakers and panelists hear insights on how healthcare executive leadership can cultivate organizational culture, social capital, development, and leadership pipelines that are meaningful in advancing and sustaining change. This podcast was supported by: Staffy HIROC LBCG Medavie UKG

Chaired by: Yinka Macaulay, Founder, Well Millennial and Lead, Health Equity, North York Toronto Health Partners Featuring Moderator: Ryan Hinds, Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto Panelists: Dr. Rani Srivastava, Associate Professor and Dean of Nursing, Thompson Rivers University    Click here to see Dr. Rani Srivastava's presentation slides Angela Robertson, Executive Director, Parkdale Queen West Community Health Centre Richard Jock, Member, Mohawks of Akwesasne and Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Health Authority    Click here to see Richard Jock's presentation slides Dr. Jackie Schleifer Taylor, President and Chief Executive Officer, London Health Sciences Centre Adnaan Bhyat, Healthcare Systems Strategy Specialist and Manager, Women’s College Hospital    Click here to see Adnaan Bhyat's presentation slides Systems contribute to perpetuating systemic barriers and inequity. In response to social injustices, inequitable outcomes and experiences, many organizations and leaders are making bold commitments to address systemic racism and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Advancing these commitments requires more than responding to a call to action, but also developing the efficacy on how and what is needed to change at a micro and macro level. Leaders within health and social care systems, can seek to advance organizational, structural and system change. Through examination of executive leadership within healthcare organizations across Canada, gaps exist whereby the distribution is often not reflective of the communities and populations served. To disrupt this status quo, understanding the experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) within systems and as professionals across their career trajectory as emerging, senior, and tenured leaders is needed. Amplifying the voices and perspectives of BIPOC health professionals and policy leaders. The resources to be shared are intended to shed light on levers, enablers, and action to support leadership development and organizational change through an equity lens. Through the reflections of keynote speakers and panelists hear insights on how healthcare executive leadership can cultivate organizational culture, social capital, development, and leadership pipelines that are meaningful in advancing and sustaining change. This podcast was supported by: Staffy HIROC LBCG Medavie UKG

Dr. F. Gigi Osler, President, Federation of Medical Women of Canada; Chair, Canadian Medical Forum and Assistant Professor, University of Manitoba's Rady Faculty of Health Sciences gives the keynote at this February 15, 2022 Longwoods Healthcare Rounds. Chaired by: Yinka Macaulay, Founder, Well Millennial and Lead, Health Equity, North York Toronto Health Partners Systems contribute to perpetuating systemic barriers and inequity. In response to social injustices, inequitable outcomes and experiences, many organizations and leaders are making bold commitments to address systemic racism and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Advancing these commitments requires more than responding to a call to action, but also developing the efficacy on how and what is needed to change at a micro and macro level. Leaders within health and social care systems, can seek to advance organizational, structural and system change. Through examination of executive leadership within healthcare organizations across Canada, gaps exist whereby the distribution is often not reflective of the communities and populations served. To disrupt this status quo, understanding the experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) within systems and as professionals across their career trajectory as emerging, senior, and tenured leaders is needed. Amplifying the voices and perspectives of BIPOC health professionals and policy leaders. The resources to be shared are intended to shed light on levers, enablers, and action to support leadership development and organizational change through an equity lens. Through the reflections of keynote speakers and panelists hear insights on how healthcare executive leadership can cultivate organizational culture, social capital, development, and leadership pipelines that are meaningful in advancing and sustaining change. This podcast was supported by: Staffy HIROC LBCG Medavie UKG

Featuring: Gillian Strudwick, Chief Clinical Information Officer, Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, Lorraine Blackburn, Vice President, Professional Practice and Chief Clinical Information Officer, Vancouver Coastal Heal, Brian Lo, Research Analyst, Information Management, Centre for Addictions and Mental Health and Moderated by Don Juzwishin, Editor-in-Chief, Healthcare Management Forum The use of health information technologies continues to grow, especially with the increase in virtual care in response to COVID-19. As the largest health professional group in Canada, nurses are key stakeholders and their active engagement is essential for the meaningful adoption and use of digital health technologies to support patient care.

pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy Expert Advisory Group.  Featuring: Dr. Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Waterloo, Dr. Ewan Affleck, Senior Medical Advisor - Health Informatics, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta, Alies Maybee, Independent Patient Partner and Moderated by Dr. David Castle, Professor, School of Public Administration and Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, BC. Insights into the current thinking of the pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy (pCHDS) Expert Advisory Group (EAG) on the barriers that must be overcome to establish a coherent pan-Canadian health data ecosystem, and the current unprecedented opportunity, due to the pandemic, for fundamental improvements. Expert Advisory Group Report 1: Charting a Path toward Ambition  https://bit.ly/3nLUseh  Dr. Vivek Goel Slide deck https://www.longwoods.com/articles/images/PCHDS.pdf