This report provides a summary of the IHE/CAPT Precision Health workshop that took place on October 22, 2017 in Toronto, Ontario. The intent of the workshop was to identify gaps and opportunities in implementing precision health technologies into the Canadian health system. The workshop was supported by unrestricted grants from Merck Canada and Hoffmann-La Roche Limited.The views…
On November 1st, 2017, the Institute of Health Economics (IHE) hosted a pan-Canadian roundtable discussion regarding diabetes care and management in indigenous populations in Canada. This event was sponsored through an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Canada, and was developed in consultation with an advisory committee including: Mr. Mehmood Alibhai (Boehringer Ingelheim…
On October 22, 2017, in conjunction with the 2017 Annual CAPT Conference, the Institute of Health Economics (IHE) and the Canadian Association for Population Therapeutics (CAPT) co-hosted the IHE/CAPT Precision Health Workshop. Precision Health (PH) has potential to provide a wide range of solutions such as enhanced R&D efficiency, earlier diagnosis and time to treatment,…
This evidence-based report examines expanding the role of paramedics in the community. It summarizes the various types of community paramedicine programs (characteristics, implementation, and funding sources in other jurisdictions) as well as the safety, effectiveness, and economic outcomes of these paramedic programs towards providing patients with alternate, non-emergency health…
Alberta STE Report written under contract with the Alberta Health Technologies Decision Process (AHTDP). This STE report examines the social and system demographics, technological safety and therapeutic efficacy/effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of endovascular therapy for acute ischemic stroke, contextualized to the Alberta setting. Section Authors: Section…
This background document outlines the methods used to develop the Alberta Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for Management of Primary Headache in Adults, which was produced as part of the Alberta Ambassador Guideline Adaptation Program.
Link to Alberta Ambassador Guideline Adaptation Program
This report provides a summary of the IHE Real-World Evidence Roundtable, which took place on December 12, 2016. The intent of the roundtable was to capture initial thinking regarding preferences and perceptions of the use of real-world evidence for pricing and reimbursement of new medicines in Canada and what more may be needed.
This report provides a summary of the IHE Biosimilars Forum engagement exercise that took place on April 23, 2017 in Ottawa, Ontario. The intent of the forum was to identify: options to categorize and consider biosimilars; a process to engage stakeholders to identify place in therapy and further evidence development that may be required; and an approach to knowledge exchange that…
Building a Community-Based Health System: Lessons for a Path Forward is the 17th IHE Innovation Forum, a semi-annual event bringing together senior public- and private-sector experts and decision-makers to address health care policy issues.
This IHE Biosimilars Invitational Forum provided the perspective of international, national, and Alberta speakers and panellists who described the biosimilar reimbursement approach taken and outcomes achieved by other jurisdictions, guiding principles and policy options for Alberta, and key performance indicators and targets for reimbursement policy going forward. Towards a Framework…
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has established a number of Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) in the province around specific health care topics (e.g., Cardiovascular Health & Stroke) and within areas where care is delivered (e.g., Surgery). The SCNs are the engines of innovation in the health system and have a mandate to find new and innovative ways of delivering care to provide…
This background document outlines the methods used to update the Alberta Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for the Evidence-Informed Primary Care Management of Low Back Pain, which was produced as part of the second phase of the Alberta Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Ambassador Program.
Link to Alberta Ambassador Guideline Adaptation Program
This symposium addressed the importance of integrated health information as a necessary foundation for improved patient and system outcomes. The focus of the symposium was to discuss the benefits and challenges of shared health information and to better understand the role that health care providers play individually and collectively in achieving more person-centred and integrated…
The Value in Health Invitational Forum provided an overview from provincial, national, and international leaders around key issues to consider and address from a system perspective when developing an approach to extract value from a complex health system. The concept of system organization for a) development of standards, b) accountability arrangements and roles, and c) approaches…
This report compares the use of telemental health services in Canada and Finland, focusing specifically on the use of videoconferencing.
Information Specialist: Janice Varney
Evidence of benefit from telemental health applications: a systematic review.
This review considers the evidence of benefit from use of telemental health (TMH) in studies that had clinical, economic, or administrative outcomes. The review also includes studies that provided information on the accuracy or feasibility of TMH.
Information Specialist: Janice Varney
The Institute of Health Economics (IHE) co-hosted this Calgary conference in April 2007 to consult experts on factors contributing to the low birth weight rate in Alberta, to develop a consensus on the relevant factors, and to tailor interventions to address the contributing factors. The consensus statement on how to prevent low birth weight was developed to inform patients, health…
The use of the automated auditory brainstem response and otoacoustic emissions tests for newborn hearing screening. Permanent congenital hearing impairment/loss (PCHI) is one of the most common congenital anomalies found at birth which can be expected to lead to delays and deficits in the development of speech, language, cognition and learning, as well as secondary effects on the…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #32. The aim of this report was to critically appraise and synthesise the published evidence regarding the short- and long-term efficacy/effectiveness of surgical techniques for patients with deep venous incompetence, and attendant skin changes/ulceration, that is refractory to standard care. Information Specialist:…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #31. This report was prepared in response to a request from Alberta Health and Wellness (AHW) for information about the use of islet cell transplantation for patients with type 1 diabetes. AHW was specifically interested in the current status of islet cell transplantation using the Edmonton protocol for a sub-population…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #28. This report provides an overview of the evidence from systematic reviews on the effectiveness of suicide prevention strategies. NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research HTA unit moved to IHE. Documents produced in and prior to 2006 have different formats; the format was determined…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #30. Using the 1996 National Population Health survey data, this report provides an estimate of the prevalence of chronic pain (CP) among Albertans. It was estimated that 11.2% of Albertans suffer some level of CP and about 2.3% suffer from severe CP. As the proportion of individuals suffering from CP increases…