Other Research and Evidence

A collection of 20 physician case studies from across Canada.

This study, carried out on behalf of Canada Health Infoway, examined the possible benefits of integrated electronic reporting of laboratory test results in physician practices that had already adopted an Electronic Medical Record system (EMRs).

The study, Computerization of primary care medical clinics in Quebec: Results from a survey on EMR adoption, use and impacts explores the results of a 2013 survey. This study was directed at two main types of respondents: physicians practising in private medical clinics that had not invested in an electronic medical record (EMR), and physicians who were using an EMR in support of their day-to-day tasks. The first group provided information on the main reasons why Quebec is lagging behind other Canadian provinces and other countries in EMR adoption, and the second group provided a better understanding of how EMRs are currently being used in Quebec.

The study examines a broad set operational process benefits of implementing electronic medical records (EMR) in a small sample of hospital-based outpatient ambulatory clinics. The results of this exploratory study demonstrate the leading process benefits (time saved) for administrative, nursing and physician staff as a result of improved administrative and clinical processes enabled by EMR use in these clinics. This study is available only in English.

The North Eastern Ontario Network (NEON) represents a consortium of 22 hospitals and 3 independent health facilities serving the residents of north eastern Ontario with one Electronic Health Record (EHR).  NEON launched a series of projects focused on deploying and implementing a variety of electronic tools and systems including access to the Ontario Laboratory Information System (OLIS) to support a comprehensive Electronic Medical Record (EMR) at outpatient clinic point-of-care encounters across the Network. The evaluation report found that significant gains were achieved, including improved patient safety, clinic efficiencies and continuity of care across the organization.

The full version of this white paper discusses the potential for physicians to use the data in their electronic medical records to help inform treatment decisions for their patients, as well as how this data can be aggregated and reused for broader health system purposes such as research and population health.

The purpose of the 2015 Ambulatory EMR Landscape Survey was to determine the current adoption and maturity of EMR use in ambulatory care in Canada. This is the only national measure of EMR use in ambulatory care in Canada and was used to inform the pan-Canadian Ambulatory EMR Study. This survey is available in English only.  

Infoway has partnered with the CFPC to release Best Advice: Advanced and Meaningful Use of EMRs, highlighting the benefits of using EMRs to improve the delivery of care. The six-module guide outlines core elements of using EMRs and describes how they can enhance the patient experience.

This study identified significant potential for the electronic health record and identified recommendations to maximize value. This report is only available in French.

This document describes key governance topics in context of evolving EHR needs, and needed structural to other considerations.

In this 2012 survey, Canadians shared their views about electronic health records and health system use of their personal health information.

This study identified significant potential for the electronic health record and identified recommendations to maximize value. This report is only available in French.

This document focuses on the findings of an environmental scan, including a literature review and key informant interviews, conducted to better understand how jurisdictions within Canada, other countries, organizations and associations manage or recommend the management of adolescent access to their health information. This document is available in English only.

In December, 2014, Ontario Shores launched the ‘Healthcheck’ Patient Portal to provide patients and caregivers access to their health information, with the aim to promote patient engagement and partnerships in care. The results of this benefits evaluation highlight a decrease in the number of requests for information because patients had direct access to their health information, resulting in reduced administrative burden.  After 6-months, there was a statically significant improvement in patient reported empowerment and mental health well-being measured by the Mental Health Recovery Measure.  

Personal health records and other e-services provide $106 to $134 million a year in value to the health care system. Download our study to learn more about the value of patient health records.

The following resources on the value of e-booking are available to assist clinicians and practices in their planning, implementation and sustained use of e-booking or other consumer health solutions.

When patients enter the health care system, it’s becoming more common to collect “know me” information, such as their likes and dislikes, worries and concerns, and living conditions. The opportunity to electronically capture this information helps providers treat the “whole person” and contributes to better care. Find out more in this new research paper.

Infoway led this research study to examine virtual visits in British Columbia. These are the results of a patient survey and in-depth interviews with primary care physicians and describe the value for patients and the perceptions of family physicians that use the service.

This document summarizes the results of a research project that consisted of an environmental scan and literature review, a Pan-Canadian survey and focus groups, and a privacy legal framework review to better understand adult and adolescent perceptions on rights of access to health information, willingness to share this access and mechanisms to enable electronic access.

The Impacts of Interoperability and Information Sharing across Settings evaluation study examined how interoperability within the Interior Health Authority region in British Columbia impacted clinicians access to complete patient information for clinical encounters, care coordination and information sharing in both hospital and outpatient settings. The results produced evidence supporting the need and desire for an interoperability solution, as well as identifying lessons learned and opportunities for future integration. Infoway sponsored the evaluation study. It is available in English only. If you would like the content in French, please contact us.

Evidence of opportunities for interoperability to improve care is a compilation of evidence points from our surveys and studies that demonstrate issues that can be solved with interoperability.  Some of these represent baseline metrics defining the current state which we plan to measure against going forward.  Others provide the basis for the value modelling work.

The Canadian Interoperability Landscape Study aims to provide a detailed and updated understanding of the current landscape of interoperability in Canada. The insights gathered from the study will help Infoway and our partners move forward, together, to overcome interoperability challenges so patients, clinicians and our health system can realize the benefits of more connected care.

The 2022 Canadian Interoperability Landscape: A Survey of Clinicians provides insights from clinicians about the current state of interoperability across care settings in Canada. 818 clinicians participated, including general practitioners, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals.

Infoway commissioned Environics Research to interview 77 of Canada’s digital health leaders about the current state of interoperability in Canada. These clinicians, administrators, government stakeholders and vendors overwhelmingly told us interoperability is a high priority and they believe we can achieve it, but it will take time.

Clinicians are increasingly able to access and exchange patient health information, but many don’t always have a summary of the care their patient received in a different practice setting. Learn more about how an interoperable health system can improve the sharing of information between care providers.

We know there has been a dramatic shift to virtual care in Canada during the pandemic, enabling patients and physicians to connect safely at a distance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This presentation highlights the key findings from Infoway’s recent surveys of Canadians and what the numbers might tell us about the future of virtual care in Canada. This presentation highlights the key findings from Infoway’s recent surveys of Canadians and what the numbers might tell us about the future of virtual care in Canada.

This study examines the impact of providing patients with direct access to their lab results as soon as they are available. The findings include improved satisfaction, more timely access, no increase in anxiety, and fewer calls to physician offices. This report is available in English only.  

This study explores the relationship between engaged patient status and use of digitally-enabled health services, utilization of health care services and self-rated health status and mental health status using a nationally representative sample of patients in Canada.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of health care delivery in Canada. Jurisdictions have promptly responded and have shifted health care delivery from in-person to virtual, enabling patients and physicians to safely connect at a distance to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This deck provides an overview of jurisdictional progress with virtual care, including how patients are accessing virtual care services and lab results. Note: The survey results are available only for provinces where the sample size allowed for a meaningful analysis.

Canadians are increasingly interested in accessing their own personal health information (PHI) and medical information, but many have still yet to do so. Learn more about the impact of patient access to their own PHI and the benefits for health care providers, patients, families and caregivers, and the health system.

In 2016, the Centre de coordination de la télésanté du Centre intégré universitaire de santé et services sociaux de l’Estrie-Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CCT du CIUSSS de l’Estrie - CHUS) developed a telehomecare (THC) service for users with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The THC-COPD service allows users to self-manage their disease and gives health professionals the ability to monitor the user’s health condition. This preliminary report demonstrates the value of continuing to support the THC-COPD service, as assessment continues using a larger data set in a secondary evaluation report that is underway.

This literature review examines the primary effects of implementing telehomecare and remote patient monitoring programs for some of the most common diseases in efforts to reform digital health in Canada. Studies conducted in this assessment highlight significant factors contributing to successful telehealth programs used internationally.

Telehomecare Monitoring significantly decreases medical visits without compromising pregnancy outcomes, quality of care and patient satisfaction in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

This study found a telehomecare program for diabetic patients demonstrated and improvement in glycemic control compared to usual care.  It also suggests a decrease in the number of medical visits, with additional burden shifted to nursing time.

In 2014, Canada Health Infoway undertook a national exploratory survey with R.A.Malatest  & Associates Ltd., a third party research firm to conduct opinion research to investigate the value of Digital Health for caregivers in Canada. This Market Research Report, assesses perceptions of caregiving responsibilities with respect to access to care, coordination of care provided by healthcare professionals and various digital health solutions.

This article published in JAMIA explores how key components of economic evaluations have been included in evaluations of health information systems (HIS), to determine the state of knowledge on value for money for HIS, and provide guidance for future evaluations.

Infoway has a long-standing commitment to research and evaluation, going beyond ensuring prudent use of funds and completion of initiatives, to investigate the impacts of digital health in Canada and capture the lessons going forward. This independent qualitative study was commissioned by Infoway in November 2022 to better understand how past investments helped to support response and readiness of the health system during the pandemic and have since contributed to health system transformation.

This analysis describes the current virtual care landscape in Canada with a focus on the benefits achieved through investments in telehealth for rural and remote communities and projected benefits for the expansion of virtual care to primary care services. Particular emphasis is placed on avoidance of travel for patients and the resulting economic and environmental impact.

The Digital Health Equity Analysis aims to uncover inequalities in the access to digitally-enabled health services across gender categories and ethnic groups. It also examines how some socio-economic determinants of health impact access to digital health technologies.

Using data from the 2020 National Digital Health Survey, this analysis looks at the digital health literacy of Canadians 16 and above using eHEALS and investigate how factors such as gender, age, and socioeconomic status interact with digital health literacy. The findings of this presentation is presented at the 2020 Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research virtual conference.

In partnership with Leger, Canada Health Infoway commissioned a web survey of more than 12,000 Canadians over the age of 16 during the summer of 2021 to update our understanding of the Canadian digital health landscape. This report highlights Canadians’ knowledge, comfort levels, and perceptions of innovative health technologies. 

This analysis aims to demonstrate the significant environmental and financial values associated with virtual delivery of care. The analysis provides estimates for carbon emissions avoidance, financial cost savings and patient time savings associated with the use of virtual care services by Canadian patients during COVID-19.

Infoway conducts the annual Canadian Digital Health Survey to gain insights into Canadians’ attitudes and perceptions about digital health. This report highlights results from the 2022 Canadian Digital Health Survey: Interest in and Access to Digital Health Services.

View partial results related to EMRs and interoperability from the 2022 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey of Primary Care Physicians. The survey presents results from 10 countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States) and included 1,459 Canadian respondents.

This presentation is an overview of the economic benefits model will help quantify benefits to the healthcare system, identifying future focus areas for Infoway. Infoway acknowledges the leadership and contribution of McKinsey & Company for its research and fact-based analysis for this report.

This report looks at the collective benefits of digital health investments in Canada using the cumulative benefits calculation, a macro-level indicator trended over a period of 10 years, developed by Canada Health Infoway.

This study examines the results from a national survey of 4,109 Canadian adults, which sought to understand consumer use patterns for mobile apps and smart devices to monitor health and well-being. Funded by Canada Health Infoway, and conducted in partnership with HEC Montréal and CEFRIO. The results of the study can be used to set the national baseline for future studies in mobile health apps and smart connected devices, as it is the first internationally comparable study of its kind, and the largest ever, world-wide.

Infoway has partnered with the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing to release a report that details the development of digital health competencies in nursing education. Findings highlight the need for additional digital health awareness and education in nursing curricula.

This report provides information and an overview of the current landscape and legal framework in Canada regarding access to personal health information as it relates to minors. This document is available in English only.

Canada Health Infoway is committed to ensuring every Canadian has access to their personal health information (PHI) as a key step in modernizing the healthcare system, achieving Connected Care, and building a learning-based health system where patients actively contribute to their own care. Infoway recognizes that improving patient access to PHI is a critical element in creating a more integrated and patient-centric healthcare system, enabling Canadians to be active participants in their health journey. The Patient Access to Personal Health Information Environmental Scan, developed by PwC in collaboration with Infoway, provides a comprehensive environmental scan of the current state and future directions for patient access to PHI across Canada’s provinces and territories.

PrescribeIT® is Infoway’s national e-prescribing service that enables prescribers to electronically transmit a prescription directly from an electronic medical record to the pharmacy management system of a patient’s pharmacy of choice. Learn more about how PrescribeIT® can improve safety for patients and generate efficiency benefits for clinicians and the health system.

This review offers the first consolidated evidence base to inform the responsible adoption of AI scribes in healthcare systems. It highlights clear gains in clinician well-being and documentation efficiency, while identifying critical areas for further research, such as ethical safeguards, patient acceptability, and long-term outcomes, requiring strategic oversight. These findings equip decision-makers with timely guidance to support effective, and equitable AI integration through investments in EHR integration, clinician training, human-in-the-loop safeguards, and real-world pilot testing.

This resource highlights evidence from published literature on the anticipated benefits to patients, health care providers, and the health system for Connected Care services, specifically patient summary, electronic consults and electronic referrals.