AI-Powered Clinical Decision Support Systems: Potential, Precautions, and Practical Considerations for Primary Care in Canada
Webinar Wednesday Healthcare Innovation Rounds – AI-Powered Clinical Decision Support Systems: Potential, Precautions, and Practical Considerations for Primary Care in Canada
Join us for a thought-provoking webinar examining the role of AI-powered Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) in primary care. While AI has the potential to influence diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical workflows, its integration into patient care raises important questions about reliability, safety, and clinical accountability.
This session will provide clinicians, healthcare leaders, and policymakers with a critical overview of AI-CDSS, including their functions, limitations, and the current gaps in regulation. While some AI-CDSS tools are approved by Health Canada as medical devices, many are not, leaving questions about their safety, effectiveness, and accountability. By examining some examples of practical applications of AI-CDSS, participants will explore key considerations when evaluating these tools, including issues of bias, transparency, and decision-making autonomy.
By the end of the session, attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how AI-CDSS function, the risks they may introduce, and the factors to consider when determining their role in clinical practice. This webinar is designed to support clinicians in making informed decisions about AI in primary care.
Speakers
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Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia
CEO, eHealth Centre of Excellence
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Dr. Mohamed Alarakhia is:
• a Family Physician at the Centre for Family Medicine Family Health Team
• the CEO of the eHealth Centre of Excellence
• Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University
• Adjunct Professor, University of Waterloo
• Faculty Digital Health and Innovation Lead at McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (Waterloo Campus)
• Digital Health Canada Board Member
• KW4 Primary Care Network Board Member
Dr. Alarakhia was awarded the Digital Health Executive of the Year Award in 2019 and the College of Family Physicians of Canada Award of Excellence in 2018 and 2022. In 2024, he was the recipient of the John C. Sibley Award for Excellence in Education for Part Time Faculty.
Dr. Alarakhia and the eHealth Centre of Excellence won the Innovation Award in 2022 from the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce. The eHealth Centre of Excellence received a Canadian Medical Association Joule Innovation Grant and an AFHTO Team Award in 2020, as well as a Patient Care Innovation Team Award at the 2019 Canadian Health Informatics Awards and a 2019 Ingenious Award from Information Technology Association of Canada.
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Jeremy Howcroft
Program Manager, eHealth Centre of Excellence
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Jeremy Howcroft is a Program Manager and has worked at the eHealth Centre of Excellence for over 8 years as a trusted leader in digital health for primary and integrated patient care. In this time, Jeremy was also Digital Health Lead for the Cambridge North Dumfries OHT for almost 3 years. Jeremy is a graduate of the University of Guelph where he received his Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Systems and Computing and is a Certified Project Management Professional. He is passionate about enhancing care delivery through innovation and digital technology and is excited to share in the development of new ideas and solutions to transform healthcare in Ontario.
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Anne Dabrowski
Director of Information Services, Centre for Effective Practice
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Anne is a strategic leader in evidence-based healthcare innovation and digital transformation. As the Director of Information Services at CEP, Anne spearheads the organization’s evidence synthesis and AI initiatives, ensuring that healthcare professionals have access to rigorously appraised, high-quality guidance. Anne is the chief architect of CEP’s AI Learning Centre, designed to improve AI literacy and critical assessment skills among clinicians, helping them navigate the risks and benefits of AI-driven healthcare solutions. Anne is dedicated to advancing the use of technology and evidence-based methodologies to close the gap between research and practice. She is also a sought-after speaker and educator, having delivered high-impact presentations on AI literacy and knowledge mobilization to a range of audiences, including clinicians, policymakers, and knowledge translation professionals. Holding a Master of Information (University of Toronto), Anne is passionate about leveraging innovation to enhance healthcare accessibility, quality, and clinician efficiency.
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