Researchers with UBC faculty of medicine’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management (CCDPM) have teamed up with Curatio, a digital health company, to provide Canadians with virtual health support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis
The Stronger Together project harnesses Curatio’s social networking health app to connect patients with expert resources, online counselling, daily health trackers and opportunities to build social connections with Canadians experiencing similar health circumstances.
“Patients are facing unique challenges accessing health care resources during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis, director of the CCDPM. “We need to bridge these gaps and help patients build social connections that can improve their health and well-being.”
“Patients are facing unique challenges accessing health care resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to bridge these gaps and help patients build social connections that can improve their health and well-being.”Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis
In addition to contributing expert content, CCDPM researchers will assist with program evaluation for the platform’s nine different public communities: cardiovascular health and wellbeing, disability and physical activity, stroke recovery, keeping mentally strong with multiple myeloma, respiratory health and wellbeing, prostate cancer, 4+2 diabetes reversal, plan to move your kids and parenting during COVID-19.
Curatio CEO Lynda Brown-Ganzert stresses the importance of helping patients stay healthy from their own home, while reducing the burden on an already-strained health care system.
“By providing daily virtual support to patients, we can help improve the lives of Canadians and support the important work of our dedicated health care professionals,” says Brown-Ganzert. “Current participants have already seen improvements in their health literacy and outcomes by using our private and secure platform, not to mention the enjoyment of making social connections with people going through the same thing.”
Individuals can register for free access at www.curatio.me/strongertogether. By joining the platform, participants will assist researchers in learning how to best offer virtual health support and contribute to Curatio’s program development.
“We are thrilled to offer this new online resource that will contribute to the health of Canadians and the health care system as a whole,” adds Dr. Martin Ginis.
The Stronger Together project is supported by an investment from the Digital Technology Supercluster, which brings together private and public sector organizations of all sizes to address challenges facing Canada’s economic sectors including healthcare, natural resources, manufacturing and transportation.
This story was originally published by UBC Okanagan News.