Supporting Healthcare Innovation to Benefit Residents and Create Economic Opportunities
News release
Government of Canada invests more than $9 million in Newfoundland and Labrador’s health information system
May 4, 2018 – St. John’s, NL – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Enhancing innovation in health information systems benefits residents and offers unique opportunities to use health data for research and to advance the technology industry. Thanks to investments from the Government of Canada, the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information (NLCHI) will lead three new initiatives to improve clinical care and healthcare outcomes, and help foster growth in the province’s life sciences sector.
The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), today announced funding totaling more than $9 million from ACOA’s Business Development Program for NLCHI. Carol Anne Haley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services, and Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, also participated in today’s announcement.
NLCHI develops and implements the province’s confidential and secure electronic health record. The funding will enable the organization to improve technology used in the province’s health information system.The projects include: 1) a secure provincial Health Data Lab to catalogue and store health records; 2) a pilot project to enhance telehealth in rural areas, and; 3) an improved system to electronically order medical processes and procedures.
NLCHI, a crown corporation of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, works to improve the health of residents by providing quality health information to professionals in the sector, the public, researchers and health system decision-makers.
These investments support the objectives of the Government of Canada’s Innovation and Skills Plan to build a better Canada where everyone has the jobs, skills and learning to solve global challenges and strengthen communities. The Plan ensures that Canadians develop skills and seize new opportunities to succeed in a growing economy.
Quotes
“In regions across our country, researchers and healthcare professionals use technology to make advances, which help improve the health and wellness of Canadians. The Government of Canada values the work of the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information, which is using innovation as an important springboard to launch three new initiatives to improve healthcare in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA
“The Government of Canada is committed to investing in innovative ideas and solutions to enhance the quality of life for residents, while opening the door to more economic opportunities. These initiatives will help improve our province’s health information system by creating efficiencies, introducing new and improved technology, and generating opportunities for researchers and local businesses in the healthcare field.”
- The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl
“We made a commitment in The Way Forward to better leverage our partnerships with the federal government to deliver stronger programs and services and achieve positive outcomes for the people of our province. By securing this investment, we have advanced innovation in provincial health information systems in ways that will lead to better research and better use of technology to address health needs.”
- The Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Today’s announcement highlights how the Government of Canada’s support for new technology and research will benefit healthcare delivery and grow the life sciences sector right here in our province. Cutting edge digital and data driven health solutions will make Newfoundland and Labrador healthier, and allow us to adopt other innovations more quickly.”
- Nick Whalen, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East
“The Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information delivers new and innovative ehealth programs that are provincial in scope, strengthen patient safety, increase access to services and inform key health decision and policymakers. These three ACOA funded projects will enhance services provided by NLCHI including health analytics and telehealth and will add new functionality to one of the most comprehensive electronic health records in the country.”
- Dr. Kris Aubrey-Bassler, Board Chair, Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information
Related products
Contacts
Paul McGrath
Director, Communications
ACOA NL
709-772-2984
paul.mcgrath@canada.ca
Michelle Cannizzaro
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
michellecannizzaro@gov.nl.ca
Blair Medd
Director of Communications
NLCHI
709-752-6111
blair.medd@nlchi.nl.ca
Page details
- Date modified: