As hospitals and health centres reckon with one of the biggest public health crises in a century, they have to contend with the simultaneous transformation into a digitally-enabled future.

Think video consultations, tracing apps, biometric screening – all of which are rapidly becoming part of the new normal.

Many Canadian hospitals and technology companies are already leaders in healthcare innovation. Dr. Abhinav Sharma, professor and researcher at McGill University Health Center, and Valérie Pisano, CEO of the Montreal Institute of Learning Algorithms (MILA), joined the RBC Disruptors podcast to share how the pandemic has been a catalyst for the adoption of new technologies and how Canadian healthcare is transforming.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Simplecast |

See transcript

What amazed Sharma is how quickly doctors and healthcare professionals pivoted to telemedicine amid the pandemic.

“It was a big shift to actually embrace this technology, which seems sort of basic and rudimentary, he said. “But actually from a medical point of view, to deliver healthcare over a phone or over a Skype visit is actually quite a paradigm shift.”

Arguably, the ability of front-line professionals to adapt in real-time is made possible by the ongoing work of the tech community over the past several years. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, tech and AI researchers were able to respond immediately.

Pisano said that within days of the pandemic hitting Canada, dozens of researchers at MILA mobilized multiple projects, including lung imagery for diagnostic testing and predictive analytics for virus tracing.

“There’s so many different ways where AI is being solicited right now,” Pisano said.

“It really is the perfect context to say, ‘OK, if we push the boundaries of innovation, how can these technologies support us as humble and vulnerable human beings as we face this pandemic in the months and probably years ahead?'”

That’s a question researchers are exploring.

So, what can we expect? Here are 4 key takeaways.

1. The future of healthcare is here.

COVID has shown us that virtual healthcare is possible. Telemedicine and online doctor visits aren’t hard. Yes, we will still need and want face-to-face contact for all sorts of reasons, but we need to focus on evolving to create a better, more inclusive, and accessible system.

2. Data and privacy.

Right now, we have an opportunity to help more Canadians be proactive with their health. But to do that, people need to be comfortable with the idea of allowing their data to be used through new technologies and protocols. So the question becomes, how do we clearly communicate the benefits of these new innovations and how data helps us get there?

3. Healthcare is global.

We in Canada focus a lot on the balance of power between the federal and provincial governments while the pandemic has shown us how health problems and health solutions are increasingly global. How can we ensure that the innovations being developed here in Canada are global in their ambition?

4. Humans matter.

Yes, technology is going to increasingly shape healthcare. But without the human adoption of technology, we’ll never see its potential. A cultural shift needs to take place in how we view the use of technologies and the implications of data sharing. Researchers and entrepreneurs can develop the best AI or equipment, but it’s up to healthcare professionals and patients to talk through how to make this work in our daily lives.

As Canada fights the COVID pandemic, health tech has never been more important. The challenge will be to continue to innovate, and to build on our existing foundation to create a system that’s both inclusive and accessible.

 

As Senior Vice-President, Office of the CEO, John advises the executive leadership on emerging trends in Canada’s economy, providing insights grounded in his travels across the country and around the world. His work focuses on technological change and innovation, examining how to successfully navigate the new economy so more people can thrive in the age of disruption. Prior to joining RBC, John spent nearly 25 years at the Globe and Mail, where he served as editor-in-chief, editor of Report on Business, and a foreign correspondent in New Delhi, India. Having interviewed a range of prominent world leaders and figures, including Vladimir Putin, Kofi Annan, and Benazir Bhutto, he possesses a deep understanding of national and international affairs. In the community, John serves as a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs, C.D. ‎Howe Institute and is a member of the advisory council for both the Wilson Center’s Canada Institute and the Canadian International Council. John is the author of four books: Out of Poverty, Timbit Nation, and Mass Disruption: Thirty Years on the Front Lines of a Media Revolution and Planet Canada: How Our Expats Are Shaping the Future.

This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.