André Diamant

10 years ago, I needed to figure out a way to allow patients outside of a hospital to securely access their data inside the hospital. It seemed like an impossible task. I didn’t have access to an IT department or to a DMZ, which is the secure area inside of a firewall where servers are accessible from the outside world. But, after some head scratching, I figured out a simple workaround… It’s kind of like a person coming to my office to ask me a confidential question but I’m not allowed to let them in. However, I don’t need to. As long as I can see the person through the window, I can confirm their identity and they can hold up their question so I can read it. I can then hold up my response so they can read it. Nobody gains entry to my office. This is basically how the technology behind the Opal patient-in-the-loop data platform works. The hospital is never exposed to connections from the outside world. The Opal system has passed intrusion penetration tests and it has been operational now for 6 years already. Quebec is a difficult place to do healthcare IT. But difficulty also fosters innovation! I’m delighted to finally be able to share the technology behind Opal as an open-source solution. Thank you to Olivier Crête at Collabora and Xavier Dionne at Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute for helpful discussions on open-source licenses. And huge thanks to the Opal Health Informatics Group l #OHIG#OHIG for enthusiastically supporting Opal’s open-source journey. If, like me, you believe that all people should have access to their health data and you want to help, please contact me. We need donors, companies, code contributors, and supportive healthcare organizations. #opensource #patientInTheLoopData RI-MUHC | Research Institute of the MUHC | #rimuhc#rimuhc CQDM Ministère de la santé et des services sociaux Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec (MEIE) MEDTEQ+

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Opal Patient-In-The-Loop data platform Impact Report is out: Patient access to their own #health #data in near real time. For many of us, the COVID pandemic brought many hardships but also revealed unexpected opportunities to rise to the challenge and contribute to create impact in any way we could. For me, this started with the Quebec government’s Fonds d’accélération des collaborations en santé (#FACS) program, powered by CQDM. It was an honour to serve as #digital #health expert on the FACS selection committee in 2020-2021 and to recommend the Quebec SmartCare Consortium (QSCC) Project for funding, together with committee members Brian Underdown, Dr, Michèle de Guise MD, Bernard Massie and Benjamin Haibe-Kains. Thank you Daniel Hétu (Lumira Ventures) for this chance. Since, as Chair of the Research Oversight Committee (ROC) along with fellow ROC members Shehroz Khan, Mark David Lim, Ph.D. PMP and Katie Roposa, we saw the complex execution of such a large scale endeavour. CQDM's stellar staff deftly managed *all* FACS projects and ROC: Diane Gosselin, Véronique Dugas, Ph.D., MBA, Fanny Guimont-Desrochers, PhD, Rebeca Baca-Diaz. Above all, it has been a true privilege to get to know the QSSC and Opal teams, their visionary leader John Kildea, Silvana Loffredo's dedication, Susie Judd's expertise, their exemplary #patient #partnership at the core of all design, "getting stuff done". Now. This impact report was prepared at the request of the ROC of the FACS, which funded Opal’s development and operations over the last 3 years via QSSC. The Opal Health Informatics Group l #OHIG (OHIG) continues to design, develop and operate Opal at RI-MUHC | Research Institute of the MUHC | #rimuhc, and is releasing it under an #OpenSource license. Patient Voices: 7,000 users ~1,500 patients answered surveys, participated in interviews and focus groups, or provided unsolicited feedback. FIVE common themes emerged: 1. Patients love Opal : Patients overwhelmingly feel that it has improved their experience at Centre universitaire de santé McGill | McGill University Health Centre, would highly recommend it to other patients, and want it to continue. 2. Real-time test results are essential: reduces patient anxiety, brings tangible value to both patients and the healthcare system. 3. Patients want all their data in Opal: Patients love that they can easily access some of their data in Opal, are keen to access more. 4. Opal can engage patients further: Patients willing to report symptoms, engage more using Opal. 5. Reading clinical notes is empowering: Patients who read their clinical notes in Opal report improved understanding, increased trust in their clinicians, more involvement in their care. See data for yourselves: dispels many myths about patients' desire to access and ability to use their own health data. #DigitalHealth #ClinicalNotes #LabResults #PREMs #PatientExperience #HealthData #Cancer #Pediatric #IBS #Nephrology #HealthInnovation

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In today's #AudioArticle: one notable benefit of AI-powered healthcare analytics is the enhanced efficiency in data management. Don't miss Emmanuelle Brunet, CEO of Kalmy, in "Benefits, Challenges of AI-Powered Analytics in Health Systems." Out now! #MexicoBusinessNow #MexicoTech

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Interesting evolution in AI health technology research with a ML algorithm

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AI offers tremendous potential but also serious risks. Here's one application that is saving lives - reducing patient mortality by 20% at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto: "CHARTwatch is a revolutionary early warning system that monitors patients to predict deterioration within 48 hours. It analyzes over 100 variables hourly, categorizing patients as low, medium, or high risk. If a patient is high risk, CHARTwatch alerts the medical team for prompt intervention, reducing ICU admissions and death rates. Implemented at St. Michael’s Hospital, it has shown a remarkable 20% decrease in patient mortality." https://lnkd.in/eScYrmKS

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Health Canada is close to publishing new guidance on AI/machine learning (AI/ML) medical devices, which includes incorporating predetermined change control plans (PCCPs). Speaking at the 2024 Medtech Conference, Marc Lamoureux, manager of the Digital Health Division, highlighted three key challenges in the AI/ML space: algorithmic drift, transparency, and postmarket monitoring. He emphasized that AI/ML models need continuous updates to maintain performance, and transparency is critical for trust and adoption. Health Canada’s draft guidance, released in September 2023, takes a total product lifecycle approach, addressing issues like bias and the need for postmarket monitoring. Regulatory provisions will ensure higher-risk devices are closely monitored. Lamoureux also noted Health Canada is adopting PCCPs, following the lead of the US FDA and Japan’s regulatory agency. The final guidance will be published soon.

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WAVE: A Seamless Solution for managing your health data Cross-Border Fluid Medical is excited to sponsor this year's #TransportationBorderSummit in Washington, DC, which focuses on cross-border activities between Canada and the United States. As a company dedicated to innovation and sustainable solutions, we're proud to support efforts for smarter, safer, and more inclusive border systems that enhance global connectivity. Our WAVE platform provides a cutting-edge solution for securely sharing medical data across borders, overcoming traditional healthcare barriers. Key Benefits of WAVE: 1. Effortless Cross-Border Data Management: Securely store and access medical records, no matter where you are. 2. Enhanced Security & Privacy: Compliance with international regulations, such as HIPAA, ensures your data is protected. 3. Real-Time Access for Healthcare Providers: Instantly sharing your medical records allows for faster diagnoses and coordinated care. 4. Improved Patient Experience: No more paper records or delays—WAVE integrates everything for a smoother healthcare journey. To learn more visit us at : https://fluidmedical.ca/ #TransportationBorderSummit #FutureBordersCoalition #USCanadaBorder #GlobalConnectivity #SummitSponsor #Security #Technology #Collaboration #FBCTransportationBorderSummit2024

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I looked up the data on patient adoption of Digital Health in 🇨🇦 and it’s FAR WORSE than I imagined 👇 In 2023, Canada Health Infoway surveyed 10,000+ Canadians about their desire for Digital Health VS their actual use of it. These stats are REALLY telling: → Access to health information electronically (e.g. lab results): 81% desire to access VS 39% actually accessed electronic health information EVER → Access to providers via video visits: 58% desire to access VS 20% actually done one video visit EVER → Use mobile/web apps to monitor their health: 59% desire to use vs 19% ever had their health monitored → Make electronic appointments: 75% desire to use vs 26% made an electronic appointment even once That’s right - actual use is 2-3 times LOWER than actual demand. We could debate how good or bad the Tech is, but I don’t believe that’s the true bottleneck. The Tech available may be mediocre (or worse) but the Tech is functional and does work. So why is patient adoption so poor? Because patients and consumers have almost no influence on healthcare delivery and thus on Digital Health availability. Patients just “take what they can get” from healthcare. Because healthcare providers and organizations lack meaningful incentives to move faster on Digital Transformation. It’s slowly getting better… but the key word being “slowly”. Just think about it from a patient perspective… Are you REALLY going to leave your family doctor because they don’t allow online scheduling? I doubt it because you don’t want to join the other 18% of Canadians who still lack a family doctor. You’ll take what you can get. Are you REALLY going to give up your guaranteed waitlist spot for surgery because the hospital doesn’t plan to remotely monitor you and optimize your post-surgical recovery? I doubt it because you’ll just be hopping from one 1 year waitlist to another 1 year waitlist. You’ll take what you can get. Are you REALLY going to change healthcare teams because they don’t offer video visits? I doubt it because it’s not worth shifting continuity of care and ending up on another waitlist. You’ll drive 2 hours to your physician’s office if you have to. So if we want true Digital Transformation, the change has to come from within. Meaning the healthcare system itself - our government, administrators, frontline clinicians - have to be the ones being more ambitious and aggressive to accelerate us to a digitally-enabled future. The healthcare system itself has to have more internal urgency to change and dissatisfaction with the current state than even our patients and fellow citizens. Because if that’s not there… then 🇨🇦 healthcare will continue to be free but will also continue to disappoint in many ways.

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Artificial Intelligence for Canada's Healthcare Sector 🩺 Marc Vaucher, Senior Director of Investments at Scale AI, talked with Canadian Healthcare Technology for an article on the various applications of AI for the benefit of Canada’s healthcare sector. Use cases include notable initiatives by the Centre universitaire de santé McGill | McGill University Health Centre (CUSM) to increase surgical capacity and by the University Health Network Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to reduce treatment wait times. Discover the benefits of AI for healthcare 👉 https://lnkd.in/eS7P23tX Download Scale AI’s white paper on AI for healthcare 👉 https://lnkd.in/eFTfUqNy

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Ever wondered how #regulators are thinking about #AI and machine learning in healthcare? The #FDA, #HealthCanada, and #MHRA have teamed up to create new AI/ML guiding principles to keep these technologies safe and effective. These principles can help shape AI/ML solutions not just in #healthcare, but in any regulated industry. #DigitalTransformation #Tech #Regulations #AI #ML #MedicalDevices

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👨‍💻Premier Health of America Inc is establishing itself as a leader in the technological transformation of healthcare with the successful integration of Artificial Intelligence in two Quebec per diem subsidiaries, 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐢𝐧 and 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐮. Thanks to 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝟖𝟗% 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 in analyzing customer data, we have improved operational efficiency by 25%, while also increasing customer satisfaction. AI is enabling Premier Health of America Inc to strengthen its market position while opening up substantial growth opportunities in the healthcare sector. Bruno MOREL, our CTO, states: "𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬." At #PHA, we are transforming the healthcare sector, making services more accessible, efficient, and cost-effective. 👏 https://lnkd.in/eN_SBuJc

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Health Data Nexus is a platform for storage and analysis of de-identified health data for research and education communities. Upside's team developed it together with Temerty Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education in Medicine T-CAIREM at University of Toronto. Processing this kind of data requires measures like access control and egress prevention to ensure that sensitive data remains protected as we enable research. By striking the right balance between security and usability, we've created a secure environment that empowers researchers to push the boundaries of healthcare AI. 💻 In his new article, Rafał Kośla shares his insights on how to build cloud applications that protect sensitive information, while giving their users an ability to use it for research purposes. ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/dE-Zmx72 #DataGovernance #HealthcareAI #DataSecurity #DataEgress #HealthData #MedicalData

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𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐨’𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐮𝐛 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐬 (𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞) 🌈 🌅 This year, Global Outreach’s #Calling2Scale #HEALTH programme for #NeuroTech start-ups will take selected #HealthTech #entrepreneurs on an exclusive roadshow to #Toronto and #Boston. 🚌 🍁Here are 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 why Toronto is considered the leading emerging HealthTech hub in the world: 🚀 Life Science Powerhouse: At MaRS Discovery District, 1,500+ 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 converge for a transformative impact on Canada's life sciences. 🚀 Leading Neuroscience Community: With over 1,200 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 at the University of Toronto, Toronto leads in groundbreaking discoveries. 🚀 Top talent resource: Canada boasts a highly skilled workforce, ranking #1 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭 Competitiveness Index. The association agreement between the #EU and #Canada will open European start-ups to this #talent pipeline. 🚀Transforming Neuro Technologies: The Ontario Brain Institute (OBI) has funded over $240 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡, accelerating neurotech innovation. 🚀 Future of Neurotech: Over 200 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭-𝐮𝐩𝐬, like Winterlight Labs and Cognixion, are revolutionizing brain health with tech solutions. 🎀 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭>> New Horizon – North America: Canada is now an associated country to Horizon Europe, opening up funding, collaboration, and many more opportunities between The Maple Leaf country and the EU. ⏰ So, what are you waiting for? Join our #Calling2Scale HEALTH 2024 Programme and immerse yourself in Toronto's and Boston’s thriving Health Tech ecosystems. Designed for leading European NeuroTech startups, this programme offers unparalleled opportunities to scale and penetrate the dynamic East Coast of the US & Canada. 🏥 🛫 Don't miss out on this transformative journey! Apply now: https://lnkd.in/dp3NBabd Guglielmo di Cola Laurent Roux Adi Barel Eden Dvir Zano Adina Beer Tal Caspi Maayan Sharon Maytal Perlman Sahar Sazgar Eva Somodi Ido Rosenblum Martine Van Veelen Konstantinos Georgoulias Balazs Furjes Ferenc Pongracz, PhD, MBA Monika Toth Annika Szabo Portela Matilda Åberg-Wennerholm Nicolas van de Kerkhof Zsolt Bubori Celia Pita Isaac Middelmann Marta Kaczmarek Piotr Barczak Marta Passadouro Magda Kay Laura Fargas Madriles Adi Horesh Garth Smith EIT Health EIT Health InnoStars Orestis Trasanidis Pui San Tam Peter Kolesar Joanna Puškar Aviv Shoher Donna Chagal Akkerberg Nitzan Bitan

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“Connected Care” laws similar to that proposed by Canada, are needed all over the globe. The lack of easy access to medical device data communication protocols represents a big challenge for research data gathering in the age of #AI. Vendors don’t often share or even block access to their medical device communication protocols. The end result is data silos with most medical devices in the OR or ICU or wards not being able to output data in an open, standards compliant way. It’s a misconception that HL7 is being widely used in the medical device industry or in healthcare. In actual practice, proprietary vendor data in binary format is being transformed through expensive vendor-dependent gateways. Even if a medical monitor claims to output HL7 v2.x directly, the actual name of the physiological variable will be vendor dependent. For example, non-invasive blood pressure may be called NIBP or Non-invasive BP or NBP or something else by different manufacturers. Very few use ISO11073:10101 compliant names or attempt to standardize the entire data output. At Roojh Health, with #RoojhCapture, we are taking on this challenge of making medical device data more directly accessible, for healthcare and research. When will true connected care be a reality in healthcare? #data #silo #connectedcare #medicaldevices #communication #protocols

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1. I am an AI enthusiast and proponent, but AI is not a magic bullet. This work can be done without AI. AI helps, but it's also how it's operationalized. 2. Any healthcare project is only successful if there are stakeholder dedicated to making it successful. Sounds like it's just a good hospital given the right tool and they used it rightly 🤷‍♂️. ---------------------- Ok so our team at Calvient has actually done an EWS before in a previous life. Non-AI, Sepsis tool based roughly on SIRS critera. Successfully deployed/utilized in a specialty hospital (Sepsis dropped by half and infection-risk readmissions almost went away). I would bet my bottom dollar St. Michael's and/or Chartwatch have a team keeping an eye for these alerts. Acute care is inherently alert-fatigue prone and there's 1000000000 things to worry about always. What made our project successful is that the hospital dedicated a nurse task force to monitoring and reviewing the emails that we sent when a patient was flagged. If they deemed it worthy of further review they would contact the CCU rounding provider. So: see original points. A lot of work needs to be done (i.e. AI taking A LOT MORE off the plates of nursing staff) before we can point to the FACT that this tool is AI-powered as being the predominant factor to saving lives.

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Comparing Canadian and US healthcare models isn't easy due to vast differences in social and political climates, payment models, incentive structures, and government roles. However, there is much we can learn from each other, particularly in how we collaborate with the private sector to enhance healthcare delivery. Thanks to Mendel Erlenwein for having me on Healthcare Trailblazers! Check out the full episode: https://lnkd.in/g_ziu9zg

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