BC team receives grant to study virtual health equity issues

OTTAWA – Innovative Medicines Canada’s Health Research Foundation (HRF) is pleased to announce that Dr. Megan MacPherson (pictured) and her research team have been awarded an HRF Research Team Grant for Virtual Care. Dr. MacPherson is a regional practice her leader responsible for translating Virtual Health research and knowledge at Fraser Health, Columbia, British Columbia.

“On behalf of the HRF Board, I would like to congratulate Dr. McPherson and her team. The results of her research will help inform policy and practice standards to promote equitable access to healthcare. This is directly in line with HRF’s long-standing commitment to supporting research-driven decision-making in Canada.”

While the COVID-19 pandemic has created virtual health care as an innovative alternative to face-to-face visits with health care providers, it has also exposed inequalities in access, especially for underrepresented groups. rice field. Through the HRF grant, Dr. McPherson and her team will explore opportunities to improve her messaging, a virtual patient provider for underrepresented older adults, including those with visible minorities and those with disabilities.

“We are very grateful to The Health Research Foundation for giving us the opportunity to advance this important research. Ensuring equitable access to virtual health services is a critical component of the health system that needs to be addressed,” said Dr. MacPherson.

Virtual messaging for patient providers such as text, apps, and email can help monitor elderly patients at home after discharge, reducing travel, exposure, and other safety and health risks. However, equitable access to this kind of virtual care can only be achieved if research and evaluations are representative of diverse older populations. Dr. McPherson and her team see them as part of their research.

Pamela Fralick, President of Innovative Medicines Canada, said: “By improving access to virtual care, we can ease the mounting pressure on our healthcare system. We look forward to seeing the impact of Dr. McPherson’s research.”

About Health Research Foundation
Innovative Medicines Canada’s Health Research Foundation (HRF) is a non-profit organization that invests in Canadian academic health research and promotes the value of research-driven health innovation in Canada. HRF is the nation’s leading private health foundation, whose contributions help prevent and treat disease and improve Canada’s healthcare system. The organization is committed to addressing health challenges through research excellence, stakeholder partnerships, and public policy advancement.

About Innovative Medicines Canada
Innovative Medicines Canada is the national association representing the voice of Canada’s innovative pharmaceutical industry. The association advocates for policies that enable the discovery, development and delivery of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians, and supports its members’ commitment to being valued partners of the Canadian healthcare system. doing. The association invests approximately $1.4 billion annually in R&D, revitalizes Canada’s knowledge-based economy, and represents his 50 companies contributing $8 billion to Canada’s economy. . Guided by a code of ethical practice, all members work with governments, private payers, healthcare professionals and stakeholders in a highly ethical manner.