Ten years later: The impacts of GetCheckedOnline
Ten years later: The impacts of GetCheckedOnline, BC’s digital testing program for sexually transmitted and blood borne infections
When it launched in 2014, GetCheckedOnline was the first publicly funded digital testing service of its kind in Canada. Operated by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and the BC Public Health Laboratory (BCPHL), GetCheckedOnline started in Vancouver and is now available in nine communities across the province, serving over 22,000 people per year. In its decade of operation, the GetCheckedOnline program has been recognized as a Leading Practice by Accreditation Canada, a runner-up in the BC Health Quality Awards and a Top Elite Winner by UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence.
GetCheckedOnline’s objectives were to increase testing for sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI), diagnose infections earlier, reach populations with higher rates of infections facing barriers to getting tested, and improve the health system’s ability to provide STBBI testing in BC. Over the past 10 years, GetCheckedOnline has had a significant impact on STBBI testing in the province and has successfully met its original objectives. In the current context, driven by the ongoing digital transformation of healthcare, the program must now explore how to remain sustainable while better meeting the needs of equity-deserving populations.
In this presentation, we’ll discuss how GetCheckedOnline works and what we have learned about the population, public health and health system impacts of this digital health service. We’ll share lessons learned from developing a digital sexual health program, what we think is the key to GetCheckedOnline’s success, and why flexibility and adaptability are essential to the future of this program.
Speakers
-
Mark Gilbert
Public Health Physician, Researcher, BCCDC
Read More
Mark Gilbert is a public health physician in Clinical Prevention Services at the BC Centre for Disease Control, and an Associate Professor (Partner) in the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia. At the BCCDC, Mark leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, programs and interventions related to testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI), including BC’s digital testing program GetCheckedOnline. Dr. Gilbert holds an Applied Public Health Chair with a program of research focused on equitable and sustainable implementation and scale-up of STBBI testing interventions, 2SLGBTQIA+ health and digital public health. He leads multi-disciplinary research teams and works alongside community members and public health decision-makers through the Digital Sexual Health Initiative (DiSHI) and other endeavours.
Read Less
-
Devon Haag
Manager, Digital Public Health Program, BCCDC
Read More
Devon Haag is a public health program manager in the Clinical Prevention Services department at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). With more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of public and digital health, Devon leads a digital health program at the BCCDC and has played a key role in developing several significant digital health initiatives, including the internationally award-winning GetCheckedOnline program. While focused on the implementation and operation of digital and virtual health projects, Devon also works closely with researchers at BCCDC and the University of British Columbia on various digital public health and digital sexual health research studies. Devon received a Women Leaders in Digital Health Award from Digital Health Canada in 2023 and is engaged in many activities around antiracism, anti Indigenous-specific racism and reconciliation within public health.
Read Less
