News Release from Eastern Health:

November 21, 2017 – St. John’s, NL: Eastern Health today launched MyCCath, a secured, web-based pilot IT solution for clinicians at the Health Sciences Centre, that aims to facilitate the referral process for Newfoundland and Labrador patients requiring cardiac catheterization (cath) laboratory services.

The new solution will help expedite referrals for procedures performed at Eastern Health’s cardiac cath laboratory, including angiograms, angioplasties and implantation of stents and cardiac devices, among others. Performing close to 6,000 procedures each year, Eastern Health’s cardiac cath laboratory provides essential quality care to some of the sickest patients in the province.

“We are committed to improving access to health-care programs and services,” said David Diamond, President and CEO, Eastern Health. “By working in collaboration with our employees and external partners, we believe that together we can develop innovative solutions to improve access and help to ensure more positive health outcomes for those we serve.”

MyCCath, aimed at cardiologists, medical internal physicians and other cardiac cath laboratory staff, offers: electronic referrals for cardiac procedures; automatic feedback to the referring physician regarding referral status and procedure schedule; integration with a province-wide client registry and improved administrative reporting capabilities.

“Our province has one of the highest incidence of heart disease in Canada, therefore it is important for us to lead the country in innovative approaches to heart disease,” said Dr. Sean Connors, Clinical Chief for Cardiac Critical Care with Eastern Health. “MyCCath is a valuable tool because it reduces delays in the referral process, resulting in more timely intervention and enhanced quality care for patients.”

The MyCCath pilot, developed as a result of an innovative partnership with MOBIA Technology Innovations, is the first step towards ensuring that Eastern Health’s cardiac cath laboratory provides services that are equally accessible to individuals living in all regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. Initially launched as a pilot project at the Health Science Centre, MyCCath will be expanded to relevant health providers across the province in the coming months.

“The development of MyCCath is an example of how private and public sectors, working together, drive innovation that will improve patient care, and deliver much needed hospital efficiencies. With employees in Newfoundland and Labrador and across Atlantic Canada, we are pleased to partner with Eastern Health to deliver this application,” said Rob Lane, CEO of MOBIA Technology Innovations.

“MyCCath is a clear example of how innovation can contribute to improved access to critical health services,” said Ron Johnson, Vice President responsible for Information Services and Rural Health, Eastern Health. “We understand the value of research and development, and we will continue to support innovative ideas and partnerships that can help to improve the overall health of our patients and clients.”

Eastern Health pitched the MyCCath IT solution at a Hacking Health ‘hackathon’ session held in April 2017, which was hosted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries (NATI). Hacking Health is a non-profit organization that aims to transform health care by bringing people together to build realistic, human-centric solutions to front-line health-care problems.

“MyCCath demonstrates the value of Hacking Health and how innovation and the coming together of minds can help in the delivery of health care in our province,” said NATI CEO Ron Taylor. “NATI is pleased to see Eastern Health’s launch of MyCCath, an outcome of the Hacking Health movement to transform health care through creative collaboration between health-care professionals and technology creators globally.”

The success of MyCCath has led to a second Hacking Health Café, being led by Eastern Health in collaboration with Memorial University and the NL Centre for Health Information (NLCHI). It will focus on identifying innovative solutions in health and wellness for the province’s senior population. The session, open to the public, will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 in Room 1M102 at Memorial University’s Faculty of Medicine. For more information, please visit the Hacking Health St. John's Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/HHStJohnsNL.

About Eastern Health

Eastern Health is the largest, integrated health authority in Newfoundland and Labrador employing approximately 13,000 dedicated employees, over 700 medical staff, and is supported by more than 2,000 volunteers, including members of numerous auxiliaries and fundraising foundations. With an annual budget of approximately $1.45 billion, the authority offers the full continuum of health and community services including public health, long-term care, community services, hospital care and unique provincial programs and services. Serving a population of over 300,000, Eastern Health’s geographic boundaries extend from St. John’s west to Port Blandford including all communities on the Avalon, Burin and Bonavista Peninsulas.

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Media Contacts:

Tracey BolandMedia Relations ManagerEastern HealthT: (709) 777-1412TraceyL.Boland@easternhealth.ca

Melissa ForanSales & Marketing CoordinatorMOBIA Technology InnovationsT: (855) 646-6242 x3026Melissa.Foran@mobiainnovations.com

Dyanna McCarthyMarketing and Business Development CoordinatorNL Association of Technology Industries (NATI)T: (709) 757-3251Dyanna@nati.ne