Connected Health: from HIV in rural Africa to Discharge Support in Canada's Largest Hospital

The age of virtual care of patients in the community is arriving. In 2005, Dr. Lester pioneered the use of mobile phones in patient's hands to support their HIV treatment in Africa (Lancet 2010). A digital health revolution is underway with multiple options to support patients remotely by an increasing repertoire of digital modalities. But how they are used varies in quality, reach, and effectiveness. Based on over a decade of research in multiple clinical settings and health conditions, and a recently launched project, WelTel H2home, aimed to engage patients and support virtual care transitioning home from Vancouver General Hospital, this session will cover the following objectives:

1. Describe the process and benefit of including patients and front-line healthcare workers in successful innovation and research
2. Discuss an overview of 'what works and what doesn't' for patient engagement in care using digital communications
3. Provide an outlook for transforming the BC and global health systems for more responsive and more efficient patient-centred care in the digital age.