NL Health Services Receives National Innovation Award

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services was awarded the 2024 Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network’s Edge of the Year award on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at a ceremony held during the CAN Health Network’s annual fall conference.

The 2024 Edge of the Year award recognizes the health-care organization that exemplifies what it means to be an Edge: consistently engaging and participating in CAN Health Network initiatives at all levels of the organization and demonstrating a commitment to developing Canadian innovation.

“NL Health Services is honoured to be the recipient of this year’s Edge of the Year award as it recognizes our commitment to developing innovations to improve health care and health outcomes in our province,” said Ron Johnson, chief operating officer of the Eastern-Urban Zone and vice president of Innovation and Research for NL Health Services. “Health-care innovation is reflected in our mission and values as we see the potential it has to improve the health and well-being of patients, clients and long-term care residents, and contribute to the sustainability of health care delivery.”

CAN Health Network is a federally funded initiative aimed at creating a marketplace for Canadian health technology companies to sell their innovations. The network helps these companies quickly bring their innovations to market both nationally and internationally. The network is composed of various “Edges,” such as NL Health Services, which are leading health organizations across Canada. These Edges identify their needs for new products and services and collaborate with selected companies to implement and refine their technologies for success.

NL Health Services has completed three commercialization projects and currently has four active projects which are improving access to care as well as transforming patient and staff experiences, and health system resources. Information on these initiatives are included in the backgrounder below.

Collaborating and working with interest groups and experts to support innovation is an important part of NL Health Services’ Innovation Strategy which aims to:

• improve health-care services and programs through the application of innovative solutions;
• maximize health systems efficiencies and minimize associated costs by leveraging the innovation ecosystem to build partnerships and generate revenue; and
• generate economic development in the province and increase employment.

For more information, please visit the Research and Innovation website.

NL Health Services was awarded the CAN Health Edge of the Year Award at a ceremony on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Left to Right: Liam Kelly, Provincial Director of Research and Innovation, NL Health Services, Hayley Wickenheiser, four-time Olympic gold medalist, physician, and assistant general manager, player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Ron Johnson chief operating officer of the Eastern-Urban Zone and vice president of Innovation and Research for NL Health Services.

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