The Digital Health Highway

by Richard Alvarez

Q How can I use digital tools to improve my health?

A Managing a chronic disease requires a lot of monitoring, as Brian Campkin discovered following surgery to repair three arteries that were clogged at nearly 100 per cent. Brian’s heart disease was discovered following a heart attack that interrupted a weekend game of tennis, one of his favourite pastimes. Once he landed on the road to recovery, Brian took on a health crusade and went from weekend warrior to exercise expert. As he progressed and graduated from cardiac rehab therapy, he learned what it meant to be heart healthy and how to track his progress. Later, he was introduced to the Heart and Stroke Foundation online risk assessment tool, makehealthlast.ca where he was able to automate this process for himself.

Brian is just one of an increasing number of Canadians managing their own, or a loved one’s, chronic illness with the help of digital health. Coupled with a growing movement among Canadians to take more active roles in the management of their overall wellness, it’s no wonder a recent Harris/Decima survey reveals 89 per cent of Canadians feel it is important that they personally have full advantage of digital health tools and capabilities.

Whether tracking blood glucose levels, weight, blood pressure or other information, chronic disease requires on-going attention and management by patients or their loved ones. The level of patient self-management varies depending on many factors such as age, the type of chronic disease and how advanced the illness is.

Recent investments in innovation have yielded more and more digital tools for Canadians to choose. Whether chronic disease management or wellness is the objective, explore the various options available to find one that best suits your needs.

Having access to a digital health tool helped make this easier and more convenient for Brian, who is one the patients from across Canada whose story is part of the Better Health Together campaign to share how digital health tools can improve the health and wellness of Canadians.

For more examples of how digital health is having a positive impact on the lives of Canadians, visit betterhealth together.ca

Richard Alvarez, President and CEO of Canada Health Infoway.
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