Digital Health Canada BC25 Conference
Details
- DATE
- February 6
- TIME
-
8:00 am - 4:30 pm PST
Organizer
Venue
- Westin Bayshore Vancouver
-
1601 Bayshore Drive
Vancouver, BC V6G2V4 Canada - View Venue Website
- MEMBER PRICE / NON-MEMBER PRICE
- $240 / $310
This annual conference brings together professionals, organizations, and ideas from across the British Columbia digital health landscape. Attendees connect with existing communities and initiate new relationships within both traditional and emerging segments of health and healthcare in the greater Vancouver area.
Register for the Vancouver MeetUp, too!
Connect with your BC-region peers—join us for snacks and socializing at the Vancouver MeetUp (conveniently taking place just before the BC25 Conference)! Digital Health Canada MeetUps offer opportunities to network with digital health professionals from your area in a relaxed atmosphere. Your $36.75 registration fee includes taxes, snacks plus one drinks ticket (soda, wine, or beer). Register separately for the MeetUp using the link below.
Schedule
| 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. |
Networking Breakfast |
| 8:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. |
Opening Remarks
|
| 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. |
Opening Keynote: BC Digital Health Strategy – A Story in Progress
|
| 10:10 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. |
Panel: Shaping our future in BC - The AI revolutionIn this engaging panel discussion, we will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare across British Columbia. The panel will delve into key advancements, real-world applications, and the challenges of integrating AI technologies into the healthcare system. Topics include the need for strategic alignment, ensuring equitable access to AI-powered solutions, and using AI to support our strained health human resources. Join us for an inspiring conversation that highlights the potential of AI to address some of BC’s most pressing healthcare challenges and the collaborative efforts required to ensure innovation translates into better outcomes for all.
|
| 10:55 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. |
Networking Break |
| 11:25 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. |
Remodelling Healthcare: The Role of Digital Tools in Improving Health Outcomes (Breakout Room)This presentation delves into how EHR systems, data analytics, AI and digital tools are reshaping healthcare delivery. Highlighting their impact on achieving the Quintuple Aim, it focuses on improving patient outcomes, provider experiences, health equity, and system efficiency. We will explore the pivotal role of integrated technology in supporting coordinated care, especially in rural and remote communities, empowering providers, and ensuring equitable and effective care delivery tailored to the needs of diverse populations.
Sponsored by Oracle |
| 11:25 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. |
Achieving Success via Digital and Automated Clinical Workflows: Benefits to the Patient, Clinician and Institution (Main Room)The increasing demand for efficiency and accuracy in healthcare settings has stressed the importance of connected healthcare solutions. The Baxter presentation explores the integration of infusion pumps, connected vitals, and clinical communication systems to streamline workflows, enhance patient safety, and improve care delivery. By linking these critical devices and platforms, hospitals can achieve significant time savings and reduce the risk of errors associated with manual data entry and disconnected systems. The presentation will also highlight the positive impact on staff satisfaction, as automation reduces the cognitive and administrative burden, enabling clinicians to spend more time on direct patient care. This connectivity is the foundation for artificial intelligence applications, offering predictive insights and real-time decision support to optimize outcomes. We’ll also cover insights into how connected healthcare solutions can transform operations, improve clinical accuracy, and lay the groundwork for future innovations in patient care. Key Objectives:
Pre/Post Workflow Optimization:
Lay the Foundation for AI Applications Future of Healthcare Integration:
Sponsored by Baxter |
| 12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. |
Networking Lunch |
| 1:10 p.m. - 1:55 p.m. |
Urgent Virtual Care Coordination: Co-Designed Pathways to Access the Right Care the First Time in BCThis presentation will explore how emergent and urgent virtual care services are being harmonized to improve access to and coordination of urgent care in British Columbia through the Urgent Virtual Care Coordination (UVCC) initiative. The session will highlight the co-design of a virtually enabled service delivery blueprint that integrates ambulance services with regional health authority virtual care hubs, leveraging the learnings and outcomes data of alternative pathways already in use by BCEHS. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the UVCC initiative potential for transformative impact and what BCEHS has already done to improve patients receiving the right care the first time.
|
| 2:05 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. |
Qualitative Exploration of Emergency Department Nurse and Physician Experiences with the Ontario eHub HIEThis study evaluates the impact of the Ontario eHub Health Information Exchange (HIE) on the workflow, usability, and efficiency for emergency department (ED) nurses and physicians at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) one year after its implementation. The Ontario eHub HIE aims to improve Electronic Health Record (EHR) interoperability by facilitating seamless data sharing across healthcare providers, which is crucial for comprehensive patient care, especially in emergency settings. The study uses an interpretive description methodology, guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, to assess the factors influencing HIE utilization in the ED. Findings will provide insights into how the eHub HIE integrates into clinical workflows and suggest improvements for future expansions to other healthcare settings.
|
| 2:50 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. |
Networking Break |
| 3:20 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. |
Closing Keynote: Empowering Patients in a Digital RevolutionElectronic medical records and popular artificial intelligence apps, such as Grok and ChatGPT, have the potential to transform patients from passive objects of medical care into active partners on their health care teams. Paul explores the promise and pitfalls of an emerging health care revolution.
|
| 4:20 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. |
Closing Remarks
|
Speakers
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Shelagh Maloney
Chief Executive Officer, Digital Health Canada
Read MoreShelagh Maloney’s career has been defined by a passion for digital health and its transformative ability to improve the patient and provider experience. Prior to assuming the role of CEO, Digital Health Canada, Shelagh held national executive leadership roles in both the public and private sectors where she earned widespread recognition for her business development, relationship management, consensus-building, and communication skills.
A dedicated advocate for innovation and equity through digital health, Shelagh has shaped policy and practice through influential volunteer roles. She is currently Vice -Chair, Vision Loss Rehab Canada and has served as Vice Chair of SNOMED International, Board Chair of Digital Health Canada, and Board Director, Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). Shelagh holds a B.Sc . in Applied Health Sciences from the University of Waterloo and is a Certified Professional in Health Information & Management Systems (CPHIMS-CA).
In recognition of her contributions to the industry, Shelagh was an inaugural recipient of the Women Leaders in Digital Health in 2017 and was named a Digital Health Canada Fellow in 2023.
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Michael Cleghorn
Chief, Provincial Digital Solutions, PHSA
Read MoreMike Cleghorn is the Chief of Provincial Digital Solutions at Provincial Health Services Authority in BC, and as a health informatics professional he has worked exclusively in healthcare across public and private sector roles for over 20 years. In his current role, he is responsible for the clinical and business enterprise digital health products and services across PHSA and partner health organizations provincially. Initiatives Mike is responsible for align to the four foundational objectives of BC’s Digital Health Strategy, including the Connected Health System. Previous to PHSA, Mike was with Alberta Health Services for 12 years in various IT leadership roles. Most recently he led the Community Care Services portfolio service operations and as part of the Connect Care program. While at AHS he led a number of key provincial initiatives including the roll-out of provincial public health system, coordinating the IT emergency response to the Southern Alberta Floods, and played a vital role within IT and AHS’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With his role and dedication to the pandemic response, Mike was recognized in early 2023 as a recipient of The Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for Alberta. Born and raised in Victoria, Mike is a graduate of the Health Information Science program at UVic and after 19 years away now resides back on Vancouver Island with his wife and two young daughters.
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May Tuason
Executive Director, Clinical Architecture, Digital Experience & Innovation, Provincial Health Services Authority
Read MoreMay is a Registered Nurse and highly skilled digital health leader with over 20 years of work experience in private and public sectors in Canada and the US. In her portfolio, May works with sector partners on developing digital experience standards for better connected experiences between patients and providers. May and the PDHIS Digital Health Innovation team also support an AI secretariat role in developing an organizational approach to responsible AI adoption. With a blend of clinical, technical, and business expertise, May holds an MBA from the University of Liverpool, UK and a bachelor’s degree of Science in Nursing from the University of British Columbia. May is also a Certified Professional in Information Management Systems (CPHIMS), Project Management Professional (PMP), PROSCI Certified Change Practitioner, and Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO).
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Shannon Berg
Executive Director, Primary Health Care and Virtual Services, First Nations Health Authority
Read MoreShannon Berg serves as Executive Director, Primary Health Care and Virtual Services with First Nations Health Authority in British Columbia. She lives, works and plays on the ancestral, traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, including the land of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. She is a registered Occupational Therapist in BC, with a MSc in Health Services Planning and Administration and a PhD in Health Services Research.
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Dr. Angel Arnaout
CMIO and Surgical Oncologist, PHSA
Read MoreDr. Angel Arnaout is a Surgical Oncologist, Professor of Surgery, and Chief Medical Informatics Officer at PHSA. In her multiple roles, she believes in leveraging technology and data to transform the way we deliver care. At PHSA, she is spearheading the use of AI to address practical pain points for healthcare providers; and wants to set up a provincial process to support the rapid yet responsible deployment of AI tools across various domains in healthcare.
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Sheazin Premji
Executive Director, Centre for Advanced Analytics, Data Science and Innovation, Fraser Health Authority
Read MoreSheazin is the Executive Director of The Centre for Advanced Analytics, Data Science, and Innovation for the Fraser Health Authority. She has over 20 years of experience in leading strategic healthcare system transformations. She takes a patient and provider-centric view to lead teams that redesign and optimize services with a focus on achieving positive outcomes and impacts. Sheazin leads an interdisciplinary team of consultants to data scientists and engineers driven to create artificial intelligence solutions that work in partnership with clinicians and patients to navigate complex systems and reduce administrative burdens. She leverages leading practices, innovation, consulting, and change expertise to develop advanced analytical solutions to enable digital transformation within Fraser Health.
Sheazin is close to completing her studies at MIT for the Advanced Certificate for Executives in Management, Innovation, and Technology at MIT. She has Executive Certificates in Management and Leadership and Digital Business from MIT. She also has an MBA in Health Services Management from McMaster University, a BSc in Biology from Dalhousie, and a BSc in Kinesiology from Simon Fraser University.
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Birinder Narang
Chair - Digital Health Caucus, Doctors of BC
Read MoreDr. Birinder Narang is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia, a Medical Contributor for Global BC and CKNW 980, and a Family Physician for the REACH Community Health Centre. He is currently serving as Co-Chair for the Doctors of BC Digital Referral and Orders Steering Committee and is Past Chair for the Board of Directors at Burnaby Divisions of Family Practice. He also serves on the board of advisors for the Sikh Research Institute. In 2024 he participated in an External Advisory Committee for Health Canada for AI in Healthcare.. He received the 2021 College of Family Physicians of Canada’s Award of Excellence and 2022 UBC Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Leadership / Service.
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Sonia Pagliaroli
Healthcare Informatics Executive, Oracle Health Canada
Read MoreAs Healthcare Informatics Executive for Oracle Health Canada, Ms. Pagliaroli strives to partner with clinical executives to ensure the value of improved safety and quality of care outcomes are realized through the utilization of health information technology solutions.
Ms. Pagliaroli is a registered nurse and clinical informatics professional (CPHIMS-CA) with frontline clinical experience and over 20 years of senior leadership expertise.
She holds board positions as Director of Membership for the Canadian Nursing Informatics Association and Director of Membership for the HIMSS Eastern Canada Chapter. Her passion is in data sharing, standards, outcomes and reducing clinician burden and as such, is an active participant of the National Nursing Data Standards group. She is a graduate of the Masters of Health Information Science from University of Victoria.
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Erin O’Halloran
Vice President and General Manager, Oracle Health Canada
Read MoreErin O’Halloran is the General Manager and Vice President for Oracle Health Canada, leading the mission to create a human-centric healthcare experience powered by unified data. Erin oversees the strategic development and delivery of the Oracle Health business in the Canadian market, focusing on innovative strategies to modernize healthcare information and technology for our clients across the country.
Erin leads a diversified and dynamic team that work alongside Canadian public sector organizations who have or will be implementing Oracle Health solutions in their organizations and health systems to improve care decisions, support whole-person care, and promote better experiences for patients, clinicians, and staff with intuitive, intelligent healthcare technology solutions.
Erin is a dedicated and passionate healthcare executive with a focus on healthcare technology and digital transformation strategy. Her passion for innovation and mission-driven approach fuels her work, where she leads as a strategic thinker and connector. With a strong background in business development and more than 20 years of experience spanning medical devices, biotech and life sciences, consulting and healthcare technology, Erin is committed to leading change and fostering growth and innovation within the healthcare industry. In addition, Erin has worked as a college instructor and has a strong background and experience in adult education, training, and facilitation. Erin has an MBA from Royal Roads University and an undergraduate degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.
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Dustin Reeves
Nurse and Clinical Informaticist, Device Integration, Baxter
Read MoreDustin Reeves is an experienced nurse and clinical informaticist, with over 9 years in nursing and 6 plus years in health informatics. Dustin has a passion for interoperability and improving patient safety by the use of connected devices. He is currently Baxter Canada’s Informatics Sales Executive, leading clinical and technical conversations for Baxter’s Connex Solution. Dustin also teaches for the University of Windsor for their graduate Health Informatics program. Dustin holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Windsor and a Master of Science in Health Informatics from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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Ryan Hochworter
Sr. Director Digital Strategy and Growth, Baxter
Read MoreRyan Hochworter is an experienced leader in the healthcare industry, known for his passion for transformative digital solutions. With over 20 years of expertise, he has worked with top healthcare systems, focusing on utilizing technology to transform healthcare delivery. Currently serving as the Sr. Director of Digital Strategy & Growth at Baxter, Ryan, plays a crucial role in addressing healthcare value, complex clinical challenges, and accessibility through innovative technology-enabled solutions. He leads a team dedicated to developing technical strategies that leverage digital solutions to tackle industry challenges and stay ahead of trends. Prior to joining Baxter, Ryan held leadership positions in consulting, technical architecture, and global services at Hillrom and other healthcare organizations. He is known for providing guidance and actionable solutions in digital health strategy to healthcare systems worldwide. Ryan holds a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor's degree in International Business from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He also holds certifications in Project Management, Six Sigma, and has contributed to innovation through multiple patents.
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Kate Vignoe
Head of Clinical Informatics, Baxter
Read MoreKate Vignoe, MSN, RN is the Head of Enterprise Strategy and Informatics at Baxter and has been a registered nurse for 25 years, with a background in critical care. Kate earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Seton Hall University, Master of Science (MSN) in Nursing Informatics from Rutgers University and is currently pursuing a PhD in Nursing Science from Rutgers University, with a focus on Fall Prevention and Technology.
Kate is a currently a member of the American Organization of Nurse for Nursing Leadership (AONL), American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN), New Jersey and New York Health Information Management System Society (HIMSS), Organization of Nurse Leaders (ONL/NJ).
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Opal Desmarais, RN, MBA
Senior Clinical Leader, Provincial Virtual Health, PHSA
Read MoreOpal Desmarais is a dedicated healthcare leader with extensive experience in critical care nursing and system-level transformation. As Senior Clinical Leader at the Provincial Health Services Authority, she collaborates with key partners to drive virtual health integration across British Columbia, ensuring innovative and sustainable care models meet diverse population needs. Previously, Opal managed national health strategies with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, influencing policy and care accessibility for cardiac patients. She holds advanced nursing certification and an MBA from the University of Victoria.
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David Brown
Manager, Strategic Clinical Operations, Clinical Hub, BC Emergency Health Services
Read MoreDavid combines extensive frontline paramedic experience with strategic leadership in emergency health services. As the Strategic Clinical Operations Manager at BCEHS Clinical Hub, he spearheads the development of groundbreaking care pathways that transform how patients access healthcare through the 911 system. His work in creating partnerships across health authorities and government has supported new approaches to low-acuity response. Drawing on his unique perspective as both a practicing paramedic and former emergency dispatcher, David champions the evolution of paramedic practice within British Columbia's integrated healthcare system.
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Ovesiri (Patricia) Fueta
MScN Student, Western University
Read MorePatricia Fueta is a visionary healthcare leader with a focus on digital health and a strong commitment to enhancing health information technology services. She brings over five years of experience in clinical information technology systems, having started her career at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) as a Registered Nurse. Her clinical background provides her with a unique perspective that informs her projects, ensuring that technology solutions are practical and aligned with the needs of healthcare professionals and patients alike.
Patricia’s dedication to teamwork and a curious mindset have been pivotal in her success and in advancing the integration of technology within healthcare settings. Currently, she is furthering her expertise by pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing with a digital health focus at Western University. This academic pursuit underscores her commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in the field of health information technology.
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Paul Watson
Author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
Read MorePaul Watson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and best-selling author of three books, including a war memoir centred on his struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His reporting and photography for the Los Angeles Times and Toronto Star focuses on wars and other calamities on several continents in a career spanning more than a quarter century. He holds a Masters Degree in international affairs from Columbia University. He now concentrates on surviving numerous health problems, including late-stage Polycystic Kidney Disease, cardiovascular disease and comorbidities. He advocates a health care revolution in which electronic health records empower patients to take more active roles in their health care. Paul’s official website is: arcticstarcreativity.com
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