RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – Mackenzie Health’s chief information officer, Diane Salois-Swallow (pictured), was recently appointed Co-Chair of an expert provincial panel to develop evidence-based guidelines (BPG) on how to integrate digital technology into professional practice at hospitals and other healthcare organizations.

Over 20 experts with varying backgrounds will sit on the panel which has been formed as part of a new partnership between Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) and the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO).

Co-chaired by Maureen Charlebois, chief nursing executive for Canada Health Infoway, the panel expects the new best practice guidelines (BPG) will be available by February 2017 for adoption by other healthcare organizations to guide their digital transformations.

“As many healthcare organizations look to merge technology with patient care, this panel of experts is a great way to collectively examine best practices around healthcare technology implementation and devise high quality standards for adoption of electronic health records,” said Salois-Swallow, who is also a nurse by background and a much sought after speaker and expert in informatics and e-Health.

The panel will offer guidance on how technology can be used to optimize clinical leadership and improve on health system deliverables.

The experts will review the evidence and develop recommendations to drive technology-enabled clinical practice and information management.

Recommendations are expected for nursing practice, education, as well as policy, organization and systems that advance clinical adoption, health systems transformation and benefits realizations.

Salois-Swallow’s leadership of the expert panel is well aligned with Mackenzie Health’s strategic emphasis on integrating new and innovative technology at the hospital to transform patient care.

Mackenzie Health is strategically poised to become a fully ‘smart’ hospital having implemented an ICAT (Information, communication and automation technology) Healthcare Strategy incorporating innovations such as its new state-of-the-art portable Data Unit, which enables the hospital to adopt a range of new and emerging technology; an Innovation Unit incorporating smart beds and other technology-enabled clinical tools in a ‘living laboratory’ designed to improve care at the bedside; and the Mackenzie Innovation Institute Mi2, established to implement and evaluate: innovative and disruptive technologies, sustainable process redesign, and practice changes in a hospital setting. In 2016, the hospital is spearheading other innovation projects such as a wayfinding mobile app and implementation of a new electronic medical record (EMR).

“As a firm believer in using digital technology to improve patient care as well as the ease and efficiency of staff and physician work flows, I am confident that by working together we can improve both the experience and outcomes for all stakeholders,” says Salois-Swallow.

About Mackenzie Health
Mackenzie Health is a dynamic regional healthcare provider, serving a population of more than 600,000 people across Southwest York Region and beyond. Nationally recognized for its commitment to safety and quality patient care, Mackenzie Health is a healthcare leader with a variety of academic partners. In 2019, Mackenzie Health will open the new Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital and will continue to operate Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital. Mackenzie Health also offers care through a network of community-based services in Richmond Hill, Vaughan and surrounding communities. For more information, please visit www.mackenziehealth.ca.