The Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) and Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) have completed a joint review of digital health certification services in Canada.
Seven key initiatives are recommended in the review. When implemented, they will will enhance Infoway certification services, building on the strong foundation already in place.
“This strategy will allow digital health companies to focus on growing their business through a streamlined national certification process,” said Karna Gupta, President and CEO, Information Technology Association of Canada.
“It is the right thing to do for the health care system and its users because it makes digital health solutions more accessible to Canadians and demonstrates that systems are private, secure and interoperate with other digital health information systems.”
The initiatives:
1. Evolve governance mechanisms and operations, such as forming an Advisory Committee with representatives from jurisdictions, clinicians, patients and the vendor community.
2. Review and enhance the certification offering for privacy and security and update requirements where necessary to increase alignment between Infoway certification requirements and federal/provincial legislation.
3. Review and enhance the certification offerings for interoperability and quality management. This includes identifying regional differences and advocating for harmonization of requirements among key decision makers.
4. Enhance services through a regular review process to reassess and update product types, certification requirements and test procedures.
5. Monitor trends in the digital health environment and participate in mobile health care application certification initiatives where appropriate.
6. Market and raise the profile of Infoway’s Certification Services offerings to key stakeholders, such as hospitals and jurisdictions.
7. Promote Infoway’s Certification Services to certification bodies in other countries as appropriate.
“Certification services help jurisdictions, hospitals and other digital health customers identify solutions that meet their needs,” explained Michael Green, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway. “Infoway certification signals to the digital health market that Infoway certified products will meet the privacy, security and interoperability requirements in Canada.”
Work on implementation is underway and will be completed over the next three years.
“Infoway has an important role and strong track record in leading certification services in Canada,” said Mark Nenadovic, Group Director, Certification Services, Canada Health Infoway. “We look forward to working with our partners to further the value certification delivers to the digital health community.”
Learn more about Certification Services and read the report.