What can Australia learn from Canada’s care model?

Key info:

• The MedInfo 2023 convention attracted over 3,000 Australian and international delegates in attendance

• Over 600 speakers and 150 exhibitors took to the stage, along with more than 30 workshops and masterclasses throughout the event

• Orion Health had a hand in the development of Integrated Health Records in the United Kingdom and Health Information Exchanges in the United States

Mr Porter, Orion Health CEO, told Sydney that both Australia and New Zealand need to follow in the footsteps of Canada, on the final day of MedInfo23, spanning July 8 – 12.

“I have publicly praised the Albanese Government’s healthcare funding initiatives in the May Budget as an example of what New Zealand’s political parties should be promising ahead of the October 14 election,” the CEO said.

Orion Health provided an overview of its central role in the roll out of the highly successful Digital First for Health strategy in Ontario, Canada, and its work delivering integrated patient-family community-centred care in the province of Alberta.

“Australia’s States and Territories are also committed to implementing digital health initiatives but, like their Federal counterparts, and New Zealand, they need to be bolder and move faster.”

Mr Porter said Governments shouldn’t be seeing digital as ‘just another information technology [IT] project’ but rather, a way of transforming care delivery, relieving pressure on doctors, emergency departments [EDs] and workers in acute settings by triaging needs and directing people to the care they need.

“Australian Governments are investing many hundreds of millions of dollars in digital health, strengthening Medicare — which they should — but, if they want to see a real return on investment, they need to look at proven market disruption that has made an impact — that’s Canada.”

Through working with Orion Health, the Canadian province of Alberta has seen a reduction in Hospital wait times of up to 90 percent, along with a reduction of in-person, patient visits. In 42 percent of cases, full in-personal referral appointments were avoided altogether.

“The Canadian approach has put interoperability at the heart of digital health, and they are now seeing the benefits,” Mr Porter said.

“Strong digital capabilities are a critical enabler for system integration and information sharing within health teams and the healthcare system so that patients have a choice on how they engage with the healthcare system and receive seamless care.”

The CEO shared the success of the New Zealand company’s strategy in Canada, as he believes investment in health data systems is vital for an efficient future in the industry.