To begin e-Health 2008: Extending the Reach, the Steering Committee and the Program Committee are pleased to present the following seven (7) pre-conference workshops:

Full Day – 9:00am to 4:00pm

Half Day – 9:00am to 12:00pm

Half Day – 1:00pm to 4:00pm

1A: Mini-Bootcamp in Applied Health Informatics
Track: Human Factors and Change Management

Understanding the key topics of Health Informatics is crucial for all who face the challenge of deploying ehealth solutions. This workshop introduces the nature of Health Informatics and overviews its breadth as a discipline.

Learning Objectives

On completion of this workshop, participants will be able:

• To recognize their competencies in Health Informatics and gaps
• To define a learning strategy that will address gaps in their Health Informatics knowledge and skills.
• Critically evaluate courses and other learning opportunities as to their value for themselves in pursuing advancement and recognition.

Interactive Methodology

• The primary interactive component of the workshop is the review and discussion of cases. The cases are brief amalgams of actual situations that challenge participants to apply the material to a real problem. Each major topical presentation is followed by a case review.
• In addition, each section of the workshop includes ample opportunity for questions and discussion.

  Speaker:
  H.D. Covvey, Waterloo Institute for Health Informatics Research

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1B: Virtual Student Research Symposium in e-Health

This symposium highlights original and innovative research in health informatics being conducted by Canadian students. Presentations will be followed by discussion and feedback from a panel of experts and peers in the field.

For more information, visit www.ehealthstudents.org
.

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2A: Clinical Decision Support Services:
From Technical Design Factors to Institutional Deployment Strategies
Track: Decision support: From Patient Care to System Management

The full range of the functions and benefits of Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are not well understood thus resulting in their under-utilization in the Canadian healthcare settings. In practice, CDSS can provide disease-specific interventions at the point-of-care. But, to make use of CDSS we need an in-depth understanding of both the technical and functional components of a CDSS together with a systematic strategy to incorporate a CDSS in the clinical workshop. This presentation aims to bridge the gaps between the demand for CDSS and its pragmatic development and deployment in a healthcare setting.

Learning Objectives

In line with the above assertions, this workshop will help the audience to learn about:

• The different functions/services offered by CDSS
• CDSS readiness assessment and requirements specification strategies
• The knowledge sources necessary to develop CDSS, in particular how to incorporate evidence-based knowledge
• The potential of CDSS at the point-of-care, in particular we aim to engage the audience to think about how CDSS can be useful in their care setting.
• The development and deployment cycle for CDSS. The audience will learn about the tasks and related challenges pertaining to a CDSS project so that they can think about using CDSS in their own healthcare settings.
• A methodology to help deploy CDSS within local clinical workflow and information flow.

Interactive Methodology

The content delivery methodology will entail interactive elements, whereby we will demonstrate at least two different CDSS (built by us) in an interactive manner with clinical cases. We will engage the audience to understand the inner working of the CDSS and the measures taken to deploy CDSS in a clinical setting. In an interactive session, the audience will experience how the needs assessment and requirements can impact the design and deployment of the CDSS. Such interactions are possible because the CDSS framework is built by us and hence it can be used as a demonstrator tool as well.

Speakers:
R. Abidi, Dalhousie University
H. Chen, Agfa Healthcare

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2B: In search of the CPOE Holy Grail:
A New World Approach to an Old World Promise
Track: School of Hard Knocks

Successfully implementing CPOE is one of the most difficult and challenging clinical informatics endeavours. A clear understanding of the common challenges and mistakes that organizations make during their CPOE journeys can be invaluable to those considering CPOE. Through our CPOE school of hard knocks workshop, participants will be able to "experience" these challenges in a safe learning environment.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the main reasons why CPOE is so difficult and challenging and be able to reference the CPOE evidence-based literature\
• Through the use of a case study, understand the steps and approach to assessing CPOE readiness and preparing the organizational culture through the implementation of an order set project
• Through focused breakout sessions, share CPOE experiences and provide insight and recommendations for overcoming common CPOE challenges (design, Content, governance, implementation and benefits evaluation)

Interactive Methodology

Participants will engage in focused breakout sessions moderated by the faculty. These sessions will include an overview of the organization’s current state, the key players, CPOE goals and desired outcomes. Participants will be provided with an opportunity to conduct a CPOE readiness assessment, discuss their experiences and challenges, and present their findings to the group. The faculty will guide the breakout sessions so that common CPOE challenges and solutions are discussed and shared. Common mistakes, successful strategies and opportunities for collaboration will be discussed. This is an excellent opportunity to foster community and collaboration among the Canadian Informatics Community

Speakers:
M.L. Fyfe, Vancouver Island Health Authority
C. O'Connor, Trillium Health Centre
K. De Caire, Trillium Health Centre
M. Morgan, Coutyard Group

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2C: Clinical Systems Interconnection with The Interoperable EHR

The Interoperable EHR is rapidly reaching market penetration in every jurisdiction in Canada. Its value to clinicians will grow as more and more clinical systems at the point of service (e.g., Electronic Medical Record systems in a general practice setting to Clinical Information Systems in acute care settings) participate directly in the Interoperable EHR. This tutorial will feature strategies for the interconnection of these clinical systems with the interoperable EHR.

The tutorial will open with a brief overview of the EHRS Blueprint and the interoperability standards that have been adopted for use on a pan-Canadian basis. Next will be a discussion of a roadmap or model of how point of service systems could incrementally participate in the EHR. We will then look at the various standards-based mechanisms for interconnection. The use of HL7 messaging standards and supporting terminologies to read and write data to/from the Interoperable EHR will be discussed. The role of structured documents within the EHR will be illustrated, as well as the associated clinical workflows incorporating a mix of: HL7 message transactions, the HL7 Clinical Document Architecture and the IHE XDS integration profile.

This tutorial will be of interest to end users, buyers and vendors of point of service systems.

Speakers:
Dennis Giokas, CTO, Canada Health Infoway
Ron Parker, Group Director of Architecture, Canada Health Infoway
Alvaro Mestre, Regional Director of Architecture, Canada Health Infoway

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3A: The Personal Health Record as a Self-Management Tool
Track: Engaging the Public

Personal Health Records have an important role to play in the management of chronic conditions; this workshop will explore a framework for implementation and strategies for successful adoption. It will build on that framework to explore how best to report on and design for better patient experience of that access

Learning Objectives

Identify the wide range of opportunities and types of personal health records and their benefits for the management of chronic conditions.

• Examine strategies and challenges for the successful development and deployment of personalized patient access to health records.
• Investigate key workflow and change management challenges and potential solutions with an emphasis on designing for better user experience.

Interactive Methodology

Emphasis will be placed on creating a dialogue with the participants. Initial presentations will be geared toward linking articulating frameworks that influence adoption. The goal will be to provide a common reference framework that can support discussion, debate and sharing of professional experienced around this issue. Key ideas will be explored in breakout groups. Participants will have the opportunity to apply key learnings to their personal and organization context. Participants will discuss challenges and opportunities using methodologies and strategies presented during the course of the workshop. Groups will then present and share experiences with the larger group.

Speakers:
P. Pennefather, University of Toronto
S. Urowitz, Princess Margaret Hospital
D. Wiljer, Princess Margaret Hospital
C. DeLenardo, Grand River Hospital
G. Eysenbach, Centre for Global e-Health Innovation
K. Leonard, Centre for Global e-Health Innovation

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3B: Mobile Technology for Electronic Clinical Documentation –
Employing User-Focused Methods to Embrace New Technologies
Track: Human Factors and Change Management

Understand the preferred (mix of) device(s) for electronic clinical documentation through user-focused methodology and evaluation.

Learning Objectives

• Develop an understanding of user-focused evaluation tactics for mobile devices
• Develop an understanding of the formulation and extrapolation of recommendation to entire hospital

Interactive Methodology

The aim of workshop will be simulate the activities that have been performed in the study, in order to gain an appreciation of the methodology. Participants can transfer this knowledge to a similar project in their organization:

Speakers:
N. Figliomeni, St. Michael's Hospital
E. Dela Cruz, St. Michael's Hospital
S. Orr, St. Michael's Hospital

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