Online portal empowers families with children's health information

June 25, 2015 (Toronto, ON) – Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital has launched a secure website that helps clients and families take an active role in managing their care by improving the way healthcare information is exchanged between clinicians and clients.

"This important health information belongs in the hands of our clients and their families," says Julia Hanigsberg, President and CEO, Holland Bloorview. "connect2care was created for and with clients and families. It speaks to our deep commitment to client and family centred care, ensuring families have the information they need to make informed decisions."

Holland Bloorview, Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital, is one of the first children's hospitals in North America to offer an online portal to families and it is one of the most comprehensive in the country.

Clients and their families are able to access healthcare information, including visit history, clinical notes and test results. In a recent enhancement, connect2care was made mobile friendly and families are now able to message their clinicians and manage their appointments by making change requests and cancellations.

"We are a single parent family of four and two of my children are clients of Holland Bloorview, both with a diagnosis of Autism," Susan Cosgrove explains. "All of my children's appointment information, medication history and reports are there for me when I need it. It's a huge advantage to have all that information at my fingertips as I continue to plan their care."

Generously supported by Canada Health Infoway, connect2care was born through a true partnership with families. It was developed based on feedback from parents and kids and is part of a research study at the Bloorview Research Institute to see how it can be improved over time.

"Our Government recognizes the importance of innovative digital health technologies as a means to modernize healthcare systems and achieve sustainability, while improving the health of Canadians," says John Carmichael, M.P., Don Valley West. "For our part, the Government of Canada is proud to support Canada Health Infoway with an investment of $2.1 billion since 2001. Canada Health Infoway acts as a catalyst and leverages opportunities to support the provinces, territories and health organizations such as Holland Bloorview and Sunnybrook Hospital in implementing eHealth technologies."

In just five months, over 525 clients and families have enrolled, making this one of the most successful e-technology platforms in Canada.

"The vast majority of Canadians want the ability to view their health information and use digital health to book medical appointments and communicate with their care providers," says Michael Green, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway. "I applaud Holland Bloorview for making connect2care a reality for families, loved ones and the children they care for, and I look forward to the day when every Canadian is equipped with secure digital health tools."

Clinicians across the hospital have been documenting electronically for the last few years, making the transition to the online portal a smooth one.

About Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) is Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital focused on improving the lives of kids with disabilities. Holland Bloorview is a global leader in applied research, teaching and learning, and client and family centred care. We are a provincial resource transforming care for children with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury including concussion, muscular dystrophy, amputation, epilepsy, spina bifida, arthritis, cleft-lip and palate, autism and other physical and developmental disabilities. Our vision is to create a world of possibility for kids with disability. For more information please visit www.hollandbloorview.ca

About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Obeid, Manager of Communications, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital 647.404.3198| jobeid@hollandbloorview.ca

Dan Strasbourg, Director, Media Relations, Canada Health Infoway 416.432.2361| dstrasbourg@infoway-inforoute.ca