Government & Policy

QUEBEC CITY – Under a proposed amendment to Bill 130, hospitals would no longer be allowed to keep patients in ERs for longer than 24 hours, except those who need to be isolated for public health reasons or because of a psychiatric episode. Read More

TORONTO – Canada Health Infoway announced that it has selected Telus Health as the technical solution provider for PrescribeIT, Canada’s e-prescribing service. “Telus Health proposed an innovative approach that, together with their advanced capabilities and capacity to deliver on our vision, make them an ideal choice for PrescribeIT,” said Michael Green (pictured), president and CEO, Canada Health Infoway. Read More

FREDERICTON – The AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE) and the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation (NBHRF) are pleased to announce the launch of a national innovation hub to advance policies, practices and services in the fast-evolving field of technology and aging. Read More

OTTAWA – The federal government’s Budget 2017 includes $300 million over five years for Canada Health Infoway. The money will help Infoway promote e-prescribing and virtual care initiatives, along with efforts to help patients access their own health records electronically, and better linking of electronic health record systems. Read More

TORONTO – Ontario has committed to funding 15 innovative health technologies via grants from the new, $20 million Health Technologies Fund (HTF). The grants support the development of software and mobile devices that focus on the delivery of better home and community care. Read More

TORONTO – Ontario has announced its first three healthcare Innovation Brokers, who will accelerate the work of the Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist (OCHIS). They will accomplish this, the government said, by connecting health technology companies, healthcare providers, patients, and other key stakeholders to advance health technology innovations into practice. Read More

EDMONTON – Alberta’s 2017-2018 budget handed out plenty of healthcare goodies earlier this month, with a pledge to build a new hospital in Edmonton and a 200-bed continuing-care facility in Calgary. The $4.5-billion health infrastructure plan also includes money to modernize and renovate Edmonton’s Misericordia Hospital and build two new facilities at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Read More

MONTREAL – After Quebec announced a ban on medical accessory fees this month, gastroenterologists said they would stop performing colonoscopies in their private practices and radiologists said they’d cancel appointments for ultrasounds in their private clinics. Read More

TORONTO – The Liberal government is scrambling to get a valuation of eHealth Ontario before the auditor general releases what is expected to be a damning report on the controversial electronic health agency. Read More