Diane Beattie, Integrated VP and CIO, Information Management, LHSC and SJHC
Beattie noted that this is one of the most exciting times for Tillsonburg and other hospitals participating in the Thames Valley project because they are functioning collaboratively and starting to share images digitally. This, she said, will improve how health care is accessed in the area. The new digital model, Beattie predicted, will be used and replicated both nationally and internationally.
Kurtis Bishop, Group Director, Drugs and Diagnostic Imaging, Canada Health Infoway
Bishop relates how Infoway got involved, more than two years, ago with the Thames valley diagnostic imaging project. He reminisces how CEOs from the region presented a vision to Infoway of a shared network that permitted digital images to be accessed anywhere in the region by authorized healthcare providers. “It’s extremely gratifying to see this vision becoming a reality…first in London, and now in the community hospitals,” he says.
Michael Mazza, CEO Middlesex Hospital Alliance
Mazza emphasizes that this groundbreaking digital imaging project moved forward in such a big way because the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital executive lead and its board was willing to take a risk. The vision for such projects, he says, will come from small communities like Tillsonburg. “If you wait for the vision from government…you’ll be waiting a long time.”
Sue Hillis, Hospital Consultant, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
On behalf of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Hillis congratulated Tillsonburg District Memorial for achieving its first 30 “filmless” days. She described it as a wonderful step towards the future and the role of technology in enhancing patient care throughout the tri-county region. “The ministry,” she said “is very pleased to support the digital imaging project, which will improve accessibility and quality of care for residents of the region.”
