Chris Geisler

Eight problems that I think are worth solving in Canadian healthcare: 1. Doctors making $200K less compared to the US 2. ePharmacy penetration lagging, 3-4x smaller than other countries (20%+ of Canadians wait 1hr or more for medication) 3. Canada is an innovation leader (e.g., 4% of global clinical trials are in Canada) but others are catching up quickly for one reason: Staffing shortages 4. High/complex needs patients (especially newcomers) lacking pathways to primary care 5. Dentists being completely siloed, yet we know those with oral health issues require more care (e.g., they have much higher instances of cardiac events) 6. Improving accessibility of the right diet choices for people who need it the most 7. Cardiologists are saying that the way we've been measuring heart health (cholesterol) can be improved 8. Patients diagnosed with chronic diseases lacking resources beyond gov't funded nonprofits (who do great work, but whose scope/speed is limited)

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Last week, we had the chance to attend an incredible event featuring physician-entrepreneurs transforming Canadian healthcare. Here’s a quick look at the solutions they’re building and the impact they’re making: • Cherry Health 🍒: Founded by Dr. Jordan Vollrath, MD, this platform tackles Canada’s locum shortage by connecting clinics with locum doctors in real time, ensuring communities always have the care they need. • Ava Industries🫀: Dr. Michael Forseth Ava EMR redefines clinical workflows, reducing screen time for physicians so they can focus on what matters most—patients. • ResolvMD 📄: Dr. Marshall Ross, MD FRCPC ResolvMD is cutting down on the complex billing burden for physicians, automating the process to help doctors save time and avoid financial losses. Read more about the event at our substack: https://lnkd.in/g67knGEM #healthtech #innovation #canadianhealthcare #physicianentrepreneurs

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Finalizing Bill 179 from 2009: A Win for Ontario's Healthcare System It received Royal Ascent in 2009! We have a ready to go solution to an important issue! Bill 179, which allows physiotherapists to order X-rays and ultrasounds, has remained unimplemented since receiving Royal Assent in 2009. Completing this crucial step would significantly benefit our healthcare system in multiple ways. 1. Cost Savings: By enabling physiotherapists to order these diagnostic tests, we can reduce unnecessary visits to physicians, saving OHIP valuable dollars. 2. Efficiency and Access: Streamlining the process means patients get faster access to necessary diagnostics, leading to quicker treatments and better health outcomes. This efficiency helps get people back to work sooner and reduces the strain on our healthcare system. 3. Reducing Physician Burnout: Physicians are currently burdened with repeated visits for simple X-Ray referrals, which can lead to burnout. Allowing physiotherapists to handle these cases directly without sending patients back to a doctor or emergency room will alleviate some of this pressure, fostering a healthier work environment for our doctors. 4. Patient-Centered Care: Patients often experience delays and increased frustration when navigating through multiple healthcare providers for diagnostic tests referrals. Simplifying this process not only saves time but also improves the overall patient experience. At our physiotherapy clinics, we frequently encounter patients who require X-rays or ultrasounds. Recognizing these needs and then sending patients back to their doctors for referrals causes delays and adds unnecessary costs. Implementing Bill 179 will streamline patient care, reduce wait times, and support a more integrated and efficient healthcare system. Let's show our commitment to improving healthcare in Ontario by finalizing Bill 179. It's an easy patient care win that will save money, increase satisfaction and efficiency, benefit patients, healthcare providers, and the system as a whole. Together, we can make a significant positive impact. #Healthcare #Ontario #Physiotherapy #HealthcareEfficiency #Bill179 #PatientCare #HealthcareReform

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 The links below highlight the Synergy Conversion system and offer a glimpse of how they can solve healthcare waste issues.  https://lnkd.in/g45Cg7Wa https://lnkd.in/gubpCz3M

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Ontario's decision to integrate private clinics into its healthcare system could be a game-changer. With plans to add 100,000 MRI and CT scans annually, this initiative aims to significantly reduce wait times. However, the expansion of private clinics has unsurprisingly, become quite partisan as policymakers debate a potential slide towards a two-tiered healthcare system. My worldview has always been to trust but verify. Given the dire situation we find ourselves in, all well intentioned, bold initiatives should be tested. There also may some positive knock on impacts for private companies who have historically been blocked from entering the Ontario market because of the inability to access MRI and CT scan licenses. What do you think?

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I’m having a bit of a full circle moment... Over a year ago, I started volunteering with Fertility Matters Canada just before embarking on the journey to build myStoria. I’m thrilled to announce that we've officially solidified a partnership! Together, we’ve created a report that focuses on the one thing that truly matters to both of our organizations: the patient experience. It's clear, our government needs to prioritize educating itself on fertility. Here are three additional key takeaways from our report (full report linked below): ✨ Empowerment through Information: Many individuals want to take an active role in their care, yet 1 in 5 feel uninformed. Accessible and reliable information is essential for empowerment. ✨ The Need for Community: Emotional stress is a significant hurdle for many. Creating platforms that foster connection and support can make a world of difference. ✨ Accessibility Matters: High costs and limited access to resources remain substantial barriers. Digital solutions can help bridge these gaps, ensuring everyone has the support they need. Let’s work together to advocate for a future where fertility care is informed, supported, and accessible to all!

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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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Exciting news! 🚀 As we celebrate our win at the latest round of funding at the Accelerator Centre, I'm reminded of the immense potential technology holds in transforming healthcare efficiency. 💡 With additional resources and funding, we are gearing up to scale our SurgiTwin platform, not just as a technological innovation, but as a solution to improve health system productivity. Our efforts will continue to focus on optimizing Perioperative workflow for more surgical departments across North America.🏥 By leveraging technology, we aim to address healthcare challenges without solely relying on capital, resources, or patient wait times. It's about efficiency, innovation, and ultimately, improving patient care. 🌟 Congratulations to all the participants, the Accelerator Centre, and FedDev Ontario for their dedication to fostering innovation in our tech ecosystem. Let's continue to drive positive change and make a difference in healthcare and beyond. 👏 #HealthcareInnovation #TechForGood #Efficiency #SurgiTwin #ACStudio #FedDevOntario #AcceleratorCentre #HealthSystemProductivity #DigitalHealth

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📣 We are thrilled to share that FluidAI Medical is leading a groundbreaking collaboration on the Postoperative Patient Management Platform (PPMP) project! Together with Medtronic, Excelar, Providence Health Care Ventures, and the University of Waterloo, we are taking a major step forward in revolutionizing postoperative care. 🔍 The Challenge: Postoperative complications are a leading cause of prolonged hospital stays and increased healthcare costs. Current diagnostic tools often fail to catch complications early, putting patients at risk and straining healthcare resources. 🌟 The Solution: The PPMP project integrates cutting-edge AI and machine learning to predict and prevent complications such as anastomotic leaks and respiratory depression. By leveraging hospital data and real-time monitoring, the platform hopes to offer healthcare providers valuable insights that drive better patient outcomes, optimize hospital resources, and reduce hospital stays. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gWGedbxh #HealthcareInnovation #AI #MedTech #PostoperativeCare #FluidAI #DIGITAL

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Excited to have our CEO & Founder, Michael Millar, recent article on chatbots feature in this month’s edition of Canadian Healthcare Technology. Chatbots are becoming more and more common, and offer healthcare organizations numerous benefits. However, unlike the chatbots we use in consumer contexts, in healthcare there is significantly more risk involved should a chatbot go off-script and offer harmful advice.  The solution? Limit risk by “priming” chatbots with relevant patient information from EMRs and other health information systems ahead of patient encounters. This is yet another example of how improving data interoperability can improve outcomes. Check out the full May edition of Canadian Healthcare Technology at the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/gB8DErTn

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🚀 Massive kudos to these 10 innovative businesses for nailing their latest fundraising milestones! 1. OrthoPulse - $4.5M - Innovating orthodontic care with a device that accelerates teeth alignment by using low-level light therapy to stimulate bone remodeling and speed up treatment times. 2. Zucara Therapeutics Inc. - $20M - Developing a groundbreaking therapy for type 1 diabetes by focusing on restoring insulin regulation through hormonal interventions, with the potential to reduce dependency on insulin. 3. Bhanzu - $16.6M - Reinventing math education by creating a digital learning platform that uses a personalized, gamified approach to teach math concepts and improve outcomes for students of all levels. 4. Plantible - $30M - Revolutionizing plant-based food with sustainable, protein-rich ingredients derived from aquatic plants, providing alternative solutions for the growing plant-based and sustainable food markets. 5. Sympower - $22.6M - Helping energy providers optimize grid stability and efficiency with AI-driven solutions that allow for the dynamic management of energy usage and demand-side flexibility in real-time. 6. BosonQ Psi (BQP) - $3M - Advancing quantum computing applications with a focus on developing software and hardware solutions for quantum-enhanced security, AI, and computational power across industries. 7. SmartBank - $19M - Reinventing banking with a mobile-first platform that delivers integrated financial services, including savings, lending, and payments, tailored for the needs of modern digital-native customers. 8. Leland - $12M - Offering an AI-powered platform for professional development that connects users with industry experts and mentors, providing personalized learning paths, career advice, and networking opportunities. 9. The Punk Rock Museum - $1.3M - Preserving punk rock history with an interactive museum experience that celebrates the culture, music, and people behind the punk movement, while engaging visitors with live performances and exhibits. 10. MB2 Dental - $525M - Transforming dental services with a scalable partnership model that offers operational support, marketing, and management to dental practice owners, enabling growth while maintaining quality patient care. 🚀 Stay tuned with Growth List for further updates on startup funding and join us to gain complete access to data and contact information.

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🌟 Excited to share my contribution to Alex Cyr's insightful article in The Globe and Mail: "Six Ways for Active People to Manage Pain." 🌟 https://lnkd.in/g7JwcvFM As a physiotherapist in Toronto, I had the privilege of discussing effective pain management techniques, focusing on the benefits of cold and hot therapies and the importance of movement therapy. Cold and Hot Therapy: - Cold therapy helps contain inflammation, especially within the first 48 hours of an injury. - Heat therapy enhances blood flow and reduces pain after the initial swelling subsides. Movement Therapy: - Intelligent movement is crucial for recovery, helping to prevent stiffness and additional pain. For more details and additional expert insights, read the full article. Let's keep moving and managing pain effectively! 💪 #PainManagement #Physiotherapy #ColdTherapy #HeatTherapy #MovementTherapy #TheGlobeAndMail #AnthonyGrande #ActiveLiving

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Let's Ask PTS is back with a new episode on Business Continuity. This time, Robin covers the question of remote access to your pharmacy. #LetsAskPTS #McKessonCanada #PharmacyTechnologySolutions #PharmacyAutomation

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👩‍⚕️ 💪 🌷 Daily Dose of Health Insights August 4 👩‍⚕️ 💪 🌷 🔹 Today's Highlight: New incubator supercharging women-focused health startups in Canada "Rachel Bartholomew, CEO of Hyivy Health, faced outright disbelief when pitching her groundbreaking vaginal dilator, “Floora,” a device that combines auto-dilation and heat therapy to revolutionize pelvic floor health. Despite its innovative design, investors often dismissed her pitch, reflecting a wider issue in the field of women's health. Women-led startups, particularly in Femtech, face daunting funding hurdles. Only 4% of Canadian venture capital and even less in the U.S. and Europe supports women-founded ventures. To combat this, Bartholomew launched Femtech Canada, a powerful network of over 120 companies dedicated to women's health. The market potential for conditions like endometriosis, which impacts millions, is staggering—up to $250 billion globally. Yet, funding lags far behind conditions like erectile dysfunction. Bartholomew fights to shift the narrative and push for recognition of the crucial, often overlooked, economic and health impacts of women’s health issues. Dr. Joss Reimer from the CMA highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equity in healthcare, reminding us that women's health research was only mandated in the 1990s. Bartholomew’s work is a crucial step toward balancing this inequity." 🔎 Why Stay Updated? In the rapidly evolving field of healthcare, staying informed is crucial. Whether it's groundbreaking research, policy changes, local health events, or wellness tips, these updates are designed to enhance your understanding and keep you at the forefront of medical knowledge. 👩‍⚕️ Our Commitment to Community Health: At Terra Nova Medical Clinics, we believe in empowering our community with information. Knowledge is not just power; it's health. By sharing these updates, we hope to foster a well-informed community that is proactive about health and wellness. 📲 Join the Conversation: We encourage you to engage with our posts, share your thoughts, and spread awareness. Let's create a healthier, more informed community together. #TerraNovaMedical #RichmondBC #HealthCanada #FamilyPractice #StayInformed https://lnkd.in/gdpeH7NX

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❤️🇨🇦Revolutionizing Ontario Healthcare: Dual Streams for Better Access and Efficiency❤️🇨🇦 What is the bureaucracy waiting for? 🤔 Ontario urgently needs two distinct streams of care within our healthcare system: Physician-led Care” and “Primary Care Practitioner-led Care. Complementary systems that can resolve healthcare issues from beginning to end independently and also in collaboration. Since Bill 179 received royal ascent in 2009, physiotherapists have been waiting for the bureaucracy to update the regulations for OHIP and the Radiology Act! The Legislature did its job in 2009, we need today’s government to tell bureaucrats to get this over the line! These long overdue updates would have made better care a reality for the people of Ontario long ago! When it comes to healthcare, creating bottlenecks doesn’t save money. People will wait for healthcare, so the idea that we can ration healthcare and save money is flawed. Instead, we end up spending more on administrative support, red tape, paperwork, “advisory boards”,“special committees”, “care alliances”, “special networks” and community programs that aren't performed by healthcare professionals and provide absolutely no value to the system. Our Bureaucracy is bringing to life the expression, Penny Wise and Pound Foolish. In the past we created jobs and work that bloat the bureaucracy yet that money is not supporting any direct healthcare delivery to our province. We must accept that there should be TWO different pathways to entering the healthcare system. One for physician related issues and another other serious concerns that can be addressed by physiotherapists, pharmacists, or nurse practitioners. By providing multiple access points to the healthcare system, we reduce the burden on physicians and save money on publicly funded administrative programs that are essentially glorified waiting lists. These programs do not add real value to the overall health and wellness of our province. As Michael Poling highlighted, the real issue isn't a doctor shortage but healthcare funding and fully utilizing the scope of practice of all healthcare professionals. Physiotherapists, for example, should handle MSK issues in ERs and primary care practices, freeing up physicians to focus on their specialties. PTs are also adept at ordering imaging, often more accurately than physicians. However, for this to be effective, the OHIP and Radiology Acts need to be updated to allow physiotherapists to refer directly and the REQUEST to be covered by OHIP. This change would unclog the system and eliminate unnecessary physician referrals. It’s time to update our healthcare system to reflect these realities, streamline care, and ensure better health outcomes for all Ontarians. Minister Sylvia Jones, if you see this, we know that in 2009 you were not the Minister of Health, yet this is something we need you and the Ford government to get done! Ontario Physiotherapy Association and People want this

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Discover the vital role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in shaping Canada's healthcare decisions! 📊✨ Join us as we explore HTA's impact on funding, policy-making, and patient care through evidence-based evaluations. Watch now to learn how HTA drives informed, quality-focused healthcare. 🌍🏥 For more insights, read the full research paper and contact us to involve patients in HTA development here: Lopes, E., Street, J., Carter, D., Merlin, T., & Stafinski, T. (2020). Understanding Canadian Health Technology Assessment through a systems lens #HealthTechnologyAssessment #HTA #HealthcareFunding #EvidenceBased #TransparentMethods #HealthcareCanada #HTAExperts #HealthInnovation #HealthcareImprovement #ContactUs #HealthcareSupport #HealthTech #MedicalResearch #ContinuousImprovement #HTAServices #Canada

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Cybersecurity experts are increasingly being asked to help Canadian healthcare organizations navigate the opportunities and risks of using AI in healthcare. In response to this, we have created a new guide that advises on how to build an infrastructure of trust to facilitate AI adoption in healthcare in a safe and responsible way. Download the guide to learn more: https://bit.ly/3UsbQ8k

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