On 16th November, Rocco Rossi, President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC), released the following statement to mark Digital Health Week:
“While the challenges facing Ontario’s health system are not new, a prolonged pandemic coupled with staffing shortages and seasonal viruses are breaking the system. Digital health solutions, while not a silver bullet, are essential tools to support healthcare workers and improve patient and system outcomes.
“The OCC commends the Government of Ontario for its ongoing efforts to develop a more efficient, integrated health data system and expand digital health and virtual care options throughout the province. To ensure equitable access, we call on the Province to accelerate the rollout of broadband infrastructure across Northern, remote, and Indigenous communities.
“In addition to the virtual delivery of care, it is important for the Province to continue pursuing innovations in digital health – including integrated health records, electronic referrals, and improved resource and service navigation – which can help alleviate some of the pressures facing the health care system and ensure improved outcomes, cost-effective service delivery, and a healthy, productive workforce.”
For more details, the OCC’s report, In Data We Trust: Unlocking the Value of Data in Ontario, and recent submission on personal health information underscore the importance of digital health solutions and the benefits of health data interoperability.
