Thanks to HEALNet researchers, access to health information is at the fingertips of clinicians at the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation

Hamilton and Edmonton - May 26, 1998 - A new health software package being commercialized by InfoWard Inc. and developed by researchers of HEALNet, a federal network of Centres of Excellence centered in Hamilton, is being installed at four sites of the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation.

Over two hundred work stations are being equipped with InfoWard's Clinical Integrator (CLINT) which means that clinicians at those sites will now be riding the information highway, which will dramatically change how physicians do their jobs. They will use the software to browse vast data bases of medical information. It will give them bed-side access to the latest medical information that before might have involved hours of research in a library.

When contacted about the commercialization of this software, which presents evidence-based health information in an easy and attractive manner for health care providers and consumers, federal Minister Allan Rock challenged Canadian researchers to address quality and efficiency issues in health care, our prized national treasure. "It is crucial to develop software products that allow health care providers to gain access to the latest and best evidence available about what works and what doesn't when patients need treatments, said Minister Rock."

Drs. Henry Friesen and Marc Renaud, presidents of the Medical Research Council and of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council respectively, both expressed interest in the commercialization of the knowledge- based tool, CLINT. The two granting Councils fund many of HEALNet's researchers. Speaking for both councils, Dr. Renaud said "Canadians spend over $70 billion annually on health care. We need solutions that can improve and maintain our current health care system."

The inventor of CLINT, Dr. Robert Hayward, created his own company, InfoWard to commercialize his discovery. The HEALNet's researcher, inventor, educator and entrepreneur saw the need to promote learning in the area of health information and has successfully transferred the CLINT technology to clinical practice. According to Dr. Hayward, " More scientists must develop their discoveries for the marketplace in Canada. Researchers must get more involved in identifying technologies ripe for commercialization and in helping transfer those innovations to the private sector. We have a responsibility to generate benefits, both social and economic, from the research being funded by the Canadian taxpayers."

The computer interface, CLINT, will give doctors and nurses easy access to scientific information right on the hospital ward.

Speaking from a physician's perspective, Dereck Hunt, General Internist at the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation, explained, "Making CLINT available to all health care professionals throughout the corporation is a major step forward in our efforts to provide high quality, well-informed healthcare." He added, "Immediate access to information on the wards and in the emergency departments will contribute significantly to the hospital's commitment to excellence in healthcare, education, and research."

All people must make important health care decisions at some point and can appreciate how difficult this can be. The process is easiest when the problem is clearly defined, the scientific evidence well-known, and the care provider and patient agree to proceed with what the studies show works best.

But, for most medical decisions, the evidence to support one treatment option over another either does not exist or is not so clear. CLINT bridges the evidence from research to clinical practice to facilitate the decision-making process.

High quality decision-making is further encouraged by online training about how to make the best use of various databases. CLINT can be used as a training tool to educate physicians and nurses on how to make evidence-based decisions.

The commercial potential of CLINT is not limited to the health care sector, as it is a simple, customizable computer interface that facilitates information management and administration while capturing data about how users work with information.

HEALNet is a national network of researchers from disciplines throughout the health, social and applied sciences, whose common aim is to better the health of Canadians by improving decision-making at all levels in the health care system.

HEALNet research focuses on enhancing the use and utility of information in health care decision-making - from analyzing information needs to developing strategies and tools to facilitate effective information use and assess performance. The Network collaborates with health care decision-makers and other private and public sector partners to facilitate the transfer of its research to users.

HEALNet is a member of the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program, and has received core funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) since 1995.

Networks of Centres of Excellence (NCE) Program Partnerships are central to the federal government's Science and Technology Strategy, and to the flagship NCE Program launched in 1989. Canada's three granting councils - the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, the Medical Research Council and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council - along with Industry Canada work together to support and oversee the NCE initiative.

The NCEs are looking for solutions to develop a more effective health delivery system, new engineering technologies, and improved social and environmental policies. A total of 470 companies, 99 government departments and agencies, 44 hospitals, 58 universities and 105 other organizations are involved both nationally and internationally. The networks provide employment to over 4,000 skilled individuals.