Clichés like “teamwork makes the dream work” have stuck in our cultural lexicon for a reason — they’re true. And they’re especially true when it comes to confronting multi-faceted challenges, particularly in health care. It takes different skills, perspectives and expertise to create an effective solution. Boehringer Ingelheim, Johnson & Johnson and Novo Nordisk are just some of the organizations that have entered into three-way partnerships between government, the private sector and the University Hospital Foundation to transform treatment and the health-care system through research.
“We all know that better health takes more than just medicine. No single stakeholder has all the answers, but when we come together, we can strengthen the system and make a real difference in people’s lives,” says Lana Solberg, health policy and patient access manager at Boehringer Ingelheim Canada, which began its partnership with the Foundation and the Government of Alberta in 2018. “At Boehringer, we believe in the collective power of individuals in the pursuit of solutions that are accessible to more people. Together, we’re building a healthier, more sustainable, and equitable tomorrow.”
Working together, these three entities are able to do more. They meet to determine priorities and work together to fund projects with local researchers, companies or community clinics already focused on the identified areas — those who can get the project completed to inform real-life practices within the health-care industry.
With projects that run the gamut from oncology research to improving health-care delivery in Indigenous communities, the impact is being felt across Alberta — and the country. Partnerships have been created in other provinces thanks to the initial innovation and synergy that started here.
“And it’s not lost on me that this relationship with the Foundation and the Government of Alberta was the first such health innovation partnership that the Foundation entered, and remains the longest standing,” says Keith Gilchrist, strategic access manager at Johnson & Johnson.
“We know that we can’t defeat serious chronic disease as a single entity — it’s impossible! It really does need an all-of-society approach, and that’s what leads us into the types of partnerships like the one that we established many years ago with the University Hospital Foundation,” says Andrew Robertson, associate director, public affairs at Novo Nordisk Canada Inc.
What if diagnosing heart disease could be faster, more accurate and completely personalized? The Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) at the University of Alberta is making that future a reality with the CVRI Imaging Core (CVRI2C), a groundbreaking initiative that’s harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced imaging to transform cardiovascular care.
By analyzing massive datasets of heart images, this technology can identify unique biomarkers that help detect heart disease earlier and more precisely. That means faster diagnoses, personalized treatment plans and better patient outcomes. AI also streamlines the workflow, reducing strain on health-care teams and allowing them to focus on what matters most — patient care.
One in eight Canadian men develop prostate cancer in their lifetime, making it the most prevalent type of cancer in that population. Early, accurate diagnosis can make all the difference.
This cutting-edge technology combines MRI and ultrasound imaging to pinpoint potentially dangerous cancers while reducing unnecessary diagnoses of harmless ones. It means fewer false alarms, fewer invasive procedures and a lower risk of postbiopsy infection.
Even better? The Foundation’s funding also allowed for the purchase of a high-resolution microultrasound machine which reduces the demand for MRIs, freeing up resources for other patients who need them. It’s a win for prostate cancer care, for patients and for the entire health-care system.
When patients need highflow oxygen, every second counts. That’s why an innovative telemonitoring system is making a lifesaving difference.
If someone is in distress — whether their oxygen is removed by accident, they struggle with aspiration or are at risk of falling — help arrives fast thanks to real-time video feeds that allow trained attendants to monitor high-risk patients remotely. In just two years, more than 12,800 hours of monitoring have prevented countless adverse events, improved patient safety and reduced hospital costs.
And this success hasn’t gone unnoticed. The project has secured additional funding to expand beyond the pulmonary ward — soon, more patients at the University of Alberta Hospital as well as hospitals in Calgary and elsewhere in Alberta, will benefit from 24/7 virtual monitoring.
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