Discover research that brings eHealth and mHealth innovations into the hands of Albertans. RESEARCH THEMES Solving Today's Challenges Discover leading research that brings eHealth and mHealth technologies into the hands of Albertans. Our mission is to improve patient-centered care, healthcare access, and timeliness for Alberta's diverse populations. Enhancing Healthcare Equity in Alberta Advancing eHealth innovation to enable intelligent patient monitoring Partnerships with Xsensor and Baxter are undergoing to evaluate the impact of eHealth tools on patient outcomes. The specific focus will be on two products: 1) Xsensor’s ForeSite® Intelligent Surface, an artificial intelligence-powered continuous skin monitoring... Health innovation for infection prevention and control The bundle of projects will look at the application of various eHealth tools to enhance aspects of infection prevention control, starting with hand hygiene compliance. This area includes a partnership with Cisco Canada to implement an interactive hand hygiene... See More Theme 1: Bridging Community and Acute Care OUR RESEARCH Uniting researchers, decision-makers, and digital health innovators to ensure seamless, inclusive, and scalable healthcare implementation in acute and community-based care settings. Led by: Matthew James and Neesh Pannu Improve CV Care Patients and physicians currently face challenges in effectively discussing non-physiological factors that impact cardiovascular health—such as mental health, support systems, and medication affordability—within the limited time available in appointments. This lack of structure can lead to tunnel vision, where only immediate physiological symptoms are prioritized, leaving other crucial aspects unaddressed. Learn More Pressure Wound Staging App An audit of Alberta’s acute care sites revealed that about one in six patients had a hospital-acquired pressure injury. These injuries cause painful, rapidly progressing sores that can lead to severe complications and even death. Pressure injuries are seen as an important indicator of healthcare quality. A high number of these injuries may indicate systemic problems with how care is being provided. Accurate staging and assessments are crucial in wound care as they ensure the right treatment plan is applied, which is vital for effective healing and avoiding further complications. Learn More Presuna: Empowering Remote Point-of-Care Ultrasound Imaging Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a portable, non-invasive tool that offers real-time imaging. This, along with its ease of use, is expected to play a vital role in home-based care and remote locations. Advancements in handheld technology have enabled POCUS to integrate into programs like Hospital at Home, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses in patient homes. Presuna, a cloud-based software, enhances POCUS by enabling clinicians to send and interpret ultrasound images remotely. It facilitates remote assessments and improves decision-making for conditions like CHF and COPD in home-based care settings. Beyond clinical use, it acts as an educational tool, tracking training progress to help physicians monitor provider skill development. Learn More PAUSE: Preventing medication complications during Acute illness through Symptom Evaluation and sick day guidance The PAUSE app is a digital tool designed to help patients manage their medications safely during times of illness. By providing personalized, symptom-based guidance, the app instructs users on when to temporarily stop or restart medications, helping to prevent complications. Many corporate pharmacies now offer digital apps for accessing prescriptions, which creates new opportunities for providers across Alberta. The PAUSE team is developing an app that integrates with the industry, aiming to bring innovative self-management tools to the community. Learn More UPTAKE Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) causes long-term complications like cardiovascular issues and hospital readmissions. Rapidly developing and often under-managed, AKI poses risks when follow-up care is lacking. Many patients leave the hospital unaware of their condition or next steps. The UPTAKE platform (Using Personalized risk and digital tools for Transitions in care after Acute Kidney Events) delivers tailored after-visit summaries with AKI-specific information, follow-up instructions, and guidance, improving care continuity and empowering patients. Learn More The Integrated Care Pathway In Canada, adults with multiple chronic conditions represent 30% of healthcare spending, with frequent and costly readmissions emphasizing the need for models that reduce hospital dependency and enhance care continuity. The Integrated Care Pathway (ICP) aims to improve care management and continuity of care for complex inpatients in the Calgary Zone by redesigning existing roles. This project is endorsed by AHS as part of the Acute Care Bundle Improvement initiative and is modelled after UHN's Connect Care model, with the evaluation led by Dr. Karen Okrainec. Learn More An international program with Alberta leadership that aims to use rehabilitation both prior to and following surgery to optimize care pathways and improve patient recovery. Enhancing recovery after surgery Leveraging new technologies and workflows to provide rural and remote patients access to specialized rehabilitation and musculoskeletal assessments. Improving specialist access programs See More Theme 2: Remote Monitoring and Virtual Care OUR RESEARCH By leveraging academic research, industry collaboration, and community engagement, Health Everywhere creates a foundation for scaling virtual and mobile health innovations for virtual care. Led by: Martin Ferguson-Pell and Mary Brindle Addictions Treatment Support App A major barrier to recovery for individuals seeking treatment for substance use is building mental skills to cope with stress and maintain daily routines. This is particularly challenging for those in intensive in-patient programs seeking full abstinence. The iPath (Integrated Pathway from Addiction to Health) project addresses these challenges by leveraging Zamplo, a digital app to empower individuals to monitor their progress and access the resources they need to stay on track with their sobriety goals. Learn More Emergency Department Wearables and Remote Monitoring Traditional medical monitoring systems are often costly and complex. Remote monitoring is transforming healthcare, allowing continuous patient oversight outside clinical settings. Consumer wearables like Apple Watches and Fitbits empower users to track vital signs, activity, and sleep in real-time. This project seeks to adapt consumer-grade wearables for scalable, real-time health data access, integrating them with remote health systems. This approach enables continuous monitoring by healthcare professionals and automatic alerts for both patients and providers, ensuring timely care and peace of mind from any location. Learn More Sense: A Video-Based Telehealth Platform for Mental Health Support The Sense (Supporting Emotional Wellness in Nurses and Social Workers in E-Mental Health) program was co-designed with healthcare professionals to address the need for emotional wellness support in healthcare workers. This program addresses the mental health challenges of healthcare professionals through six weekly sessions on a video-based telehealth platform. It combines virtual group cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with real-time feedback from an AI-enabled stress monitoring assistant, tailoring CBT modules to participants' stress responses. Learn More NeoApp: ERAS at Home Parents of neonatal babies who have undergone surgery face challenges during recovery. Transitioning from hospital care to managing their high-needs baby at home can be overwhelming and stressful, with many parents unsure how to identify normal versus concerning signs or when to seek help. NeoApp: ERAS at Home offers personalized support to empower parents, while reducing unnecessary ER visits. It helps track recovery, share progress with healthcare providers, and provides resources like videos and discussion boards for confident at-home care. Grounded in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) principles, NeoApp offers evidence-based guidance tailored to each baby. Learn More Therapeutic Effects of EVS on Gait and Balance The team at Neursantys have developed an innovative wearable device, to maintain and restore vestibular balance and motor control. The initial application was intended for astronauts, but has been adapted to aid rehabilitation in seniors and prevent falls. This device uses low-level non-invasive electrical vestibular stimulation (EVS) to activate long-lasting neuroplastic restoration of balance and gait. The tech is being tested on older adults and individuals with multiple sclerosis, with potential applications for Parkinson’s disease, stroke and cognitive decline. Pilot testing has demonstrated increased ambulatory confidence, mobility, and independence in users. The Neursantys team is currently pursuing Health Canada and FDA approvals. Learn More Intergenerational Pelvic Floor Exercise Programs Women in rural and remote areas face barriers to accessing pelvic floor rehabilitation, resulting in delayed or missed care. While pelvic floor exercises are effective, many postpartum women don’t receive timely treatment, and older women’s symptoms are often overlooked. Research shows that intergenerational approaches enhance community engagement and social support. This project explores the effects of intergenerational vs. monogenerational exercise programs through telerehabilitation to improve incontinence outcomes and promote community engagement. Learn More Start-the-Breathe: Using Drones to Deliver Immediate Care At-the-Scene for Respiratory Distress in Remote Settings Access to immediate medical care is challenging for those injured in remote or high-risk areas, such as Indigenous communities, hiking paths, or during wildfires. Delays faced by firefighters and EMS responders can lead to critical time loss and increased fatality risks. Limited telemedicine networks and the inability to monitor vital symptoms like blood pressure and oxygen levels further strain emergency response efforts. The Start-the-Breathe project utilizes drone technology to deliver kits with medical supplies in inaccessible areas, where emergency responders can't reach easily or quickly. Learn More Evaluate distributed data vending with blockchain to transform electronic health records by encouraging data distribution from owners and enabling large-scale data aggregation with robustness. Working with policy leads and government stakeholders to encourage legislation to comply with recommended standards. Building the basic infrastructure to allow data to flow securely Develop a synthetic data sandbox that drives innovation by allowing innovators to develop products using synthetic health data that reflects the real world and protects citizen privacy during product development. Developing a pipeline for exceptional analytics and research See More Theme 3: Connectivity and Data Access OUR RESEARCH We face significant challenges with the lack of health data integration, leading to interoperability issues among patients and care providers. This theme seeks to establish secure and seamless data access and interoperability for improved healthcare. Led by: Tyler Williamson Bill C-72: Connected Care for Canadians Act Bill C-72 aims to empower Canadians with easier access to their health data, while supporting healthcare providers (HCPs) in delivering coordinated, high-quality care through improved access to comprehensive patient information for better clinical decision-making. Learn More Decentralizing Health Data to Improve Data Sharing Patients currently have limited control over their health data, placing full trust in Alberta Health Services (AHS) for its management and protection. Centralized storage heightens the risk of data breaches, while siloed systems hinder access and collaboration. Privacy concerns about data use without explicit consent create distrust. Blockchain technologies facilitate decentralized, transparent data sharing and decision-making in a world of disarrayed health data. This concept explores the broad application of generative AI agents assisting healthcare practitioners and researchers in reducing burnout and leveraging blockchain for trustworthy health outcomes. Learn More Interoperability as a Lifeline Health data is a vital component of our health systems supporting everything from individual care, population health, research, and innovation. Like a river nourishing its surroundings, health data must move freely to sustain the ecosystem of care. When barriers obstruct the river’s flow, vital areas are cut off, negatively impacting patients, healthcare providers, and the overall system. The Interoperability Saves Lives report highlights the importance of a holistic, patient-centered approach to health information system design. Learn More A series of projects to better understand the factors, processes, and tools needed to support a vibrant ecosystem. This includes real-time, longitudinal research on if eHealth and mHealth technology development and innovation in Alberta is meeting current goals. Evaluating the current eHealth and mHealth ecosystem While innovators experience challenges navigating the support available to them, there are also unique services that innovators in eHealth and mHealth require that are not readily available. We will work to identify and fill critical gaps in the services available to innovators. Bespoke ecosystem support services See More Theme 4: Integrated Innovation Ecosystem Support OUR RESEARCH By addressing gaps and opportunities in the current ecosystem, our aim is to create a dynamic eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, by identifying resources, matching them with innovators, and improving overall integration. Led by: Chad Saunders The GAITS Platform This project evaluates GAITS within the SPARK Program to assess a tool’s potential for advancing health-tech solutions and facilitating adoption of new technologies by: Helping academic innovators manage and anticipate their projects milestones more effectively better aligning the technical development of innovations with product Market fit (e.g. clinical needs and organizational requirements) , regulatory requirements, and business goals Better aligning the technical development of innovations with product-market fit (e.g. clinical needs and organizational requirements) , regulatory requirements, and business goals Learn More Navigating Trade-offs in Health Technology Implementation Implementing Health Information Technology (HIT) often results in unintended consequences, such as workflow disruptions, user resistance, and increased workloads, due to insufficient understanding of trade-offs. This makes it hard for healthcare organizations to adapt to new technologies and provide safe, efficient care. Traditional approaches to HIT evaluation have been reactive, addressing problems post-implementation rather than proactively identifying and mitigating potential challenges. The framework combines concepts from the Social Business Process Management (BPM) and qualitative content analysis to better understand and improve HIT implementation. Learn More Where innovation meets healthcare HEALTH EVERYWHERE Contact Us Land Acknowledgement The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6).

We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. THEME 1: BRIDGING COMMUNITY AND ACUTE CARE Date Advancing eHealth Innovation to Enable Intelligent Patient Monitoring January 2024 Prevention of pressure injuries (PIs) is a priority for healthcare systems worldwide. Also referred to as pressure ulcers or bedsores, this condition is a skin and soft tissue injury that forms because of constant or prolonged pressure on the skin, typically occurring at bony areas on the body. Most prevalent in healthcare settings where the patient is unable to move frequently enough to relieve the pressure, PIs are painful for the patient and can lead to a deterioration in health, increased hospital stays, and even death. To address this issue, W21C partnered with XSENSOR Technology Corporation, a Calgary-based company that designs, manufactures, and sells advanced pressure-imaging systems for use in medical environments worldwide. With support from W21C’s research team, this led to the creation of a novel pressure sensing device - the ForeSite PT™ System. In late 2007, an opportunity arose for W21C to partner with XSENSOR in the development and testing of a health innovation. The main objectives of this initiative were to better understand the potential of innovative technology to support healthcare providers in caring for patients at risk of pressure injuries. W21C’s initial role was to collect and analyze focus group feedback from physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and pressure mapping experts. Over time this progressed to usability testing of a protype device in a simulated Intensive Care Unit. Each phase of W21C research was followed by a design cycle at XSENSOR that consisted of research on every aspect of the system, including overall architecture, transducer design, sensing electronics, software, mechanical design, and packaging. Through funding provided by Alberta Innovates ‘Accelerating Innovations into Care’ program, XSENSOR once again, approached W21C in 2023 to support the evaluation and impact on workflow of an updated system (referred to as ForeSite IS) in acute and long-term care, and to evaluate the device’s ability to predict skin breakdown of patients at elevated risk of PIs. This study is currently under way at Foothills Medical Centre and throughout several long-term care sites in the Calgary area. To learn more about this project and its commercial capabilities, please visit XSENSOR’s website . Image Sources: Adobe Stock (top), XSENSOR.com (middle) Alex Baron, W21C Research and Innovation Centre

Health Everywhere supports new eHealth and mHealth industries in Alberta, provide training and support to develop the next generation of digital health researchers and clinicians. Contact us today for more information. Accelerating healthcare innovations through strategic collaboration and partnerships. Advancing eHealth and mHealth ALBERTA'S DIGITAL HEALTH HUB The Health Everywhere Hub is supported by the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Technology and Innovation through the Major Innovation Fund Program. Engage With Us LEARN MORE Health Systems and Non-Profits Leaders or key stakeholders within not-for-profit, health service, and innovation support organizations. LEARN MORE Industry Stakeholders Industry leaders or key stakeholders ranging from early-stage start-ups to large multi-national corporations. LEARN MORE Researchers and Educators Academic researchers, faculty members, or students associated with an academic institution. SEE MORE News and Events Health Everywhere Launch Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe Lectureship – Digital Health Today and Tomorrow NEWS On January 23, 2024, over 100 guests joined us as we held the Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe Lectureship on Digital Health Today and Tomorrow. January 23, 2024 3 UCalgary projects receive $20.3M in provincial innovation grants NEWS UCalgary's innovation ecosystem just received a $20.3-million boost, thanks to Alberta's Major Innovation Fund. September 6, 2023 UCalgary-based program expands province-wide NEWS SPARK program receives grant from Alberta Innovates, supporting post-secondary innovators across Alberta. September 11, 2023 A hub for innovators, researchers, and service providers LETS BRING ALBERTA TOGETHER Contact Us Land Acknowledgement The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6). Alberta's Untapped Potential The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the virtual capabilities of healthcare, while also serving as a catalyst for the accelerated adoption of these capabilities. The pandemic underscored the resilience and adaptability of healthcare systems worldwide, demonstrating that technology could bridge gaps in access to medical services. Here in Alberta, we have tremendous potential in digital health that simply needs a centralized and integrated approach to harness its full capabilities. Health Everywhere emerges as a response to the shortcomings of uncoordinated eHealth and mHealth efforts. Hosted within the W21C Research and Innovation Centre at the University of Calgary , Health Everywhere will serve as the catalyzing Alberta activity hub for innovators, health system stakeholders, researchers, and investors. Health Everywhere will advance a system of supports that facilitate the adoption, spread, and scale of eHealth and mHealth technologies.

We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. UCalgary-based program expands province-wide in supporting digital health researchers NEWS Date Alex Baron, W21C Research and Innovation Centre | Sept 11, 2023 Project Contact: Image Source: iStock SPARK program receives grant from Alberta Innovates, supporting post-secondary innovators across Alberta in transforming ideas into clinical practice For the first time, researchers in digital health from Alberta post-secondary institutions will all share access to expert support in translating research innovation into improved care for citizens through an expansion of the newly renamed SPARK Alberta program. The boost is thanks to a new grant from Alberta Innovates . Launched in 2020 as SPARK Calgary, the program has been providing expert advice, education and ecosystem connections for evidence-based digital health innovations in Calgary for the last three years. Based out of the University of Calgary’s W21C Research and Innovation Centre , the program recruited its fourth cohort in spring 2023 and has worked with more than 70 faculty and researchers supporting 14 projects. The SPARK model originated from Stanford University in 2006 with the aim of advancing research discoveries from academia to the health-care system. Now a global network of more than 60 academic institutions across six continents, SPARK Alberta represents the only active SPARK site in Canada. Earlier this year, SPARK Alberta was awarded a grant by Alberta Innovates’ Ecosystem Development Partnerships Program . With this grant, SPARK will leverage its previous success in Calgary and expand the program provincially, further establishing Alberta’s reputation as a province with strong digital health innovation. “This grant will allow us to offer our resources and expertise to faculty and researchers developing innovations from post-secondary institutions from across the province,” says Dr. Scott Kraft, MD, director of SPARK Alberta and clinical associate professor in the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM). “Our aim is to form a central network, linking and co-ordinating digital health innovation across Alberta’s post-secondary institutions.” BCI4Kids and Possibility Neurotechnologies team members, from left: Erica Floreani, Eli Kinney-Lang and Dion Kelly, present the Think2Switch. Dion Kelly is a clinical neuroscientist in the BCI4Kids Research Program. Credit: Dion Kelly SPARK graduates have impact The Calgary Pediatric Brain-Computer Interface Program (BCI4Kids) plays a pivotal role in addressing the challenges currently faced by thousands of Canadian children with neurological disabilities. These disabilities often hinder their ability to fully engage in daily life and exercise their fundamental rights to interact with the world. Operating out of the Alberta Children’s Hospital and affiliated with the CSM, the BCI4Kids program is led by Dr. Adam Kirton, MSc’96, MD, a CSM professor and technology solutions research lead for One Child Every Child , a UCalgary research initiative with a vision for all children to be healthy, empowered and thriving. BCI4Kids focuses on cutting-edge brain-computer interface (BCI) technology to provide children suffering from severe neurological disabilities with an avenue to achieve greater independence and an improved quality of life. From the BCI4Kids program came a commercial venture called Possibility Neurotechnologies . Incorporated in October 2022, Possibility Neurotechnologies is dedicated to integrating BCI technology into everyday life, enabling those with severe physical disabilities to interact and communicate in transformative ways. In March 2023, the research team successfully graduated from the SPARK program. Its flagship product, Think2Switch, allows individuals to control household electronic devices using only their thoughts. By creating user-friendly and accessible technology, the team aims to enhance independence and quality of life, making previously unimaginable interactions possible for those in need. “Participating in the SPARK program has been an invaluable experience for Possibility Neurotechnologies, ” says Dr. Dion Kelly, MBT’18, PhD’23, co-founder and CEO of Possibility Neurotechnologies and clinical neuroscientist at BCI4Kids. “The monthly check-ins served as crucial touchpoints, compelling us to regularly evaluate our progress and address setbacks head-on .” Since joining the SPARK program, Possibility Neurotechnologies has achieved significant growth, including being accepted into the Remarkable Accelerator Program, receiving an equity investment from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and showcasing its Think2Switch technology at international events. With a growing mailing list and a lineup of prospective customers, the team is preparing for a limited market release in Q1 2024. The SPARK Alberta program is managed by Nicola Quiggin and directed by Scott Kraft. Scott Kraft is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Clinical Neurosciences and director of SPARK Alberta. Credit: Nicola Quiggin Next steps for SPARK Alberta One of the goals of the SPARK Alberta program is to create a community focused on supporting Alberta-made digital health innovations. By joining SPARK, participating teams are making meaningful connections with others in this community. “The in-person presentations and events fostered a dynamic network with other startups in the digital health ecosystem ,” says Dion. “Engaging with peers at various stages of development has enriched our journey, providing insights and camaraderie as we navigate the multifaceted process of growth and innovation. ” Applications for the next cohort are open until Sept. 13. If you are a faculty member or researcher developing an evidence-based digital health innovation, visit the SPARK Alberta webpage to learn more about the program and to apply.

Dr. Neesh Pannu is a Bridging Community and Acute Care Lead at Health Everywhere. Neesh is a distinguished nephrologist and Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta, is a highly accomplished medical professional. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Alberta and furthered her training at Stanford University, culminating in a master's degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Harvard University. Dr. Neesh Pannu, a distinguished nephrologist and Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Alberta, is a highly accomplished medical professional. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Alberta and furthered her training at Stanford University, culminating in a master's degree in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Harvard University. Dr. Pannu's research focuses on acute kidney injury , delving into aspects of diagnosis, management, and outcomes in this critical field. Actively engaged in impactful organizations such as the Alberta Kidney Disease Network (AKDN) and the Interdisciplinary Chronic Disease Collaboration (ICDC), she contributes significantly to advancements in nephrology. Beyond her research endeavors, Dr. Pannu holds key leadership positions as the co-Scientific Director of the Kidney Strategic Clinical Network and the assistant Dean of Clinical Research Platforms at the University of Alberta, showcasing her commitment to advancing healthcare and clinical research. Bridging Community and Acute Care Lead Dr. Neesh Pannu  npannu@ualberta.ca PREVIOUS THEME LEAD NEXT THEME LEAD

News Health Everywhere Launch Event Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. March 6, 2024 | Alex Baron On January 23, 2024, over 100 guests joined us as we held the Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe Lectureship on Digital Health Today and Tomorrow. Hosted by the W21C Research and Innovation Centre, this event formally introduced and showcased "Health Everywhere", a new eHealth and mHealth hub created from a $6.3M Major Innovation Fund award from the Government of Alberta. This lectureship series honours the contributions of Dr. Mamoru ‘Mo’ Watanabe. Joining the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Medicine (now named Cumming School of Medicine) to serve as professor and head of internal medicine in 1974, Dr. Watanabe served as dean of the Faculty of Medicine from July 1982 until June 1992, and is believed to be the first Japanese Canadian dean of a Canadian medical school. He passed away July 5, 2023, at the age of 90. Opening remarks were provided by Dr. Mary Brindle, W21C Academic Director, and Dr. William Ghali, Vice-President (Research) at the University of Calgary. Dr. Ghali shared with the audience his memories of working with Dr. Watanabe and his legacy in digital health. The event was then led in a keynote address by Dr. James A. Makokis, speaking on the negative role colonialism continues to play in healthcare for Indigenous Canadians. This was followed by a lecture from Dr. Christy Cauley on the integration of mobile health to optimize recovery in patients. After a quick intermission the audience was introduced to Health Everywhere by five of its lead researchers. This included presentations from Dr. Chad Saunders, Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell, Dr. Mary Brindle, Dr. Matt James, and Dr. Tyler Williamson. These presentations were followed by a Q&A with all the leads participating at once. Overall, the three-hour event proved to be a wonderful opportunity for the Health Everywhere team to introduce this initiative to the public while also making great connections between industry and academic leaders. Image Source: Brittany DeAngelis, O’Brien Institute for Public Health Project Contact- Alex Baron

Theme 1: Bridging Community and Acute Care Advance eHealth Innovation to Enable Intelligent Patient Monitoring Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. January 5, 2024 | Dr. Jaime Kaufman Prevention of pressure injuries (PIs) is a priority for healthcare systems worldwide. Also referred to as pressure ulcers or bedsores, this condition is a skin and soft tissue injury that forms because of constant or prolonged pressure on the skin, typically occurring at bony areas on the body. Most prevalent in healthcare settings where the patient is unable to move frequently enough to relieve the pressure, PIs are painful for the patient and can lead to a deterioration in health, increased hospital stays, and even death. To address this issue, W21C partnered with XSENSOR Technology Corporation, a Calgary-based company that designs, manufactures, and sells advanced pressure-imaging systems for use in medical environments worldwide. With support from W21C’s research team, this led to the creation of a novel pressure sensing device - the ForeSite PT™ System. In late 2007, an opportunity arose for W21C to partner with XSENSOR in the development and testing of a health innovation. The main objectives of this initiative were to better understand the potential of innovative technology to support healthcare providers in caring for patients at risk of pressure injuries. W21C’s initial role was to collect and analyze focus group feedback from physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and pressure mapping experts. Over time this progressed to usability testing of a protype device in a simulated Intensive Care Unit. Each phase of W21C research was followed by a design cycle at XSENSOR that consisted of research on every aspect of the system, including overall architecture, transducer design, sensing electronics, software, mechanical design, and packaging. Through funding provided by Alberta Innovates ‘Accelerating Innovations into Care’ program, XSENSOR once again, approached W21C in 2023 to support the evaluation and impact on workflow of an updated system (referred to as ForeSite IS) in acute and long-term care, and to evaluate the device’s ability to predict skin breakdown of patients at elevated risk of PIs. This study is currently under way at Foothills Medical Centre and throughout several long-term care sites in the Calgary area. To learn more about this project and its commercial capabilities, please visit XSENSOR’s website. Image Sources: Adobe Stock (top), XSENSOR.com (middle) Project Contact- Dr. Jaime Kaufman

We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. Enhancing Recovery After Surgery THEME 2: REMOTE MONITORING AND VIRTUAL CARE Date Alex Baron | January 2024 As we age it can take longer for our bodies to heal from trauma. As many as 40% of patients that undergo surgery will have major complications that lead to long-term health problems, such as heart disease or stroke. This is especially true for adults over the age of 65 following a major surgery, with many experiencing difficulties in returning to their pre-operation levels of function. Led by Dr. Duminda Wijeysundera, MD, at the University of Toronto, the Functional Improvement Trajectories After Surgery (FIT After Surgery) study aims to gain a better understanding of how often and why some patients experience significant disability after surgery. As one of 14 study sites across Canada, W21C is currently working with the Calgary site lead, Dr. Melinda Davis, MD, director of Master Teaching Program, clinical associate professor, Cumming School of Medicine, on recruitment efforts at the Foothills Medical Centre, actively engaging with patients prior to their surgery. Patient recruitment for the Calgary site began in July 2021 and is ongoing. Researchers are excited about the possibilities this work could reveal, especially as Canada’s population continues to age and the likelihood of more seniors needing major surgery every year is increasing. Having a better understanding of when and why patients experience disability after surgery will enable patients to make better-informed decisions about having surgery and allow physicians to identify patients that may need additional support following surgery. Overall recruitment and follow up for the study is expected to finish in 2023, with preliminary results anticipated in early 2024. By capitalizing on W21C's capabilities in eHealth and mHealth technologies, fostering collaboration, and actively engaging communities, the Health Everywhere Hub is poised to play a pivotal role in improving seniors' recovery experiences post-major surgeries. Project Contact: Dr. Mary Brindle Image Sources: Adobe Stock

Theme 2: Remote Monitoring and Virtual Care Enhancing Recovery After Surgery Date We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. January 9, 2024 | Alex Baron As we age it can take longer for our bodies to heal from trauma. As many as 40% of patients that undergo surgery will have major complications that lead to long-term health problems, such as heart disease or stroke. This is especially true for adults over the age of 65 following a major surgery, with many experiencing difficulties in returning to their pre-operation levels of function. Led by Dr. Duminda Wijeysundera, MD, at the University of Toronto, the Functional Improvement Trajectories After Surgery (FIT After Surgery) study aims to gain a better understanding of how often and why some patients experience significant disability after surgery. As one of 14 study sites across Canada, W21C is currently working with the Calgary site lead, Dr. Melinda Davis, MD, director of Master Teaching Program, clinical associate professor, Cumming School of Medicine, on recruitment efforts at the Foothills Medical Centre, actively engaging with patients prior to their surgery. Patient recruitment for the Calgary site began in July 2021 and is ongoing. Researchers are excited about the possibilities this work could reveal, especially as Canada’s population continues to age and the likelihood of more seniors needing major surgery every year is increasing. Having a better understanding of when and why patients experience disability after surgery will enable patients to make better-informed decisions about having surgery and allow physicians to identify patients that may need additional support following surgery. Overall recruitment and follow up for the study is expected to finish in 2023, with preliminary results anticipated in early 2024. By capitalizing on W21C's capabilities in eHealth and mHealth technologies, fostering collaboration, and actively engaging communities, the Health Everywhere Hub is poised to play a pivotal role in improving seniors' recovery experiences post-major surgeries. Image Sources: Adobe Stock Project Contact- Alex Baron

We envision a vibrant eHealth and mHealth ecosystem, accelerating innovation, growth, and transforming healthcare through collaboration and partnerships. Enhancing Recovery After Surgery THEME 2: REMOTE MONITORING AND VIRTUAL CARE Date Alex Baron | January 2024 As we age it can take longer for our bodies to heal from trauma. As many as 40% of patients that undergo surgery will have major complications that lead to long-term health problems, such as heart disease or stroke. This is especially true for adults over the age of 65 following a major surgery, with many experiencing difficulties in returning to their pre-operation levels of function. Led by Dr. Duminda Wijeysundera, MD, at the University of Toronto, the Functional Improvement Trajectories After Surgery (FIT After Surgery) study aims to gain a better understanding of how often and why some patients experience significant disability after surgery. As one of 14 study sites across Canada, W21C is currently working with the Calgary site lead, Dr. Melinda Davis, MD, director of Master Teaching Program, clinical associate professor, Cumming School of Medicine, on recruitment efforts at the Foothills Medical Centre, actively engaging with patients prior to their surgery. Patient recruitment for the Calgary site began in July 2021 and is ongoing. Researchers are excited about the possibilities this work could reveal, especially as Canada’s population continues to age and the likelihood of more seniors needing major surgery every year is increasing. Having a better understanding of when and why patients experience disability after surgery will enable patients to make better-informed decisions about having surgery and allow physicians to identify patients that may need additional support following surgery. Overall recruitment and follow up for the study is expected to finish in 2023, with preliminary results anticipated in early 2024. By capitalizing on W21C's capabilities in eHealth and mHealth technologies, fostering collaboration, and actively engaging communities, the Health Everywhere Hub is poised to play a pivotal role in improving seniors' recovery experiences post-major surgeries. Project Contact: Dr. Mary Brindle Image Sources: Adobe Stock