TELUS to invest $1.3 million in health technology research with the University of Alberta
Research will focus on development of new consumer health technologies
and services to support community-based, patient-centric healthcare in
Alberta
EDMONTON, May 3, 2012 /CNW/ - TELUS today announced it has signed a
memorandum of understanding with the University of Alberta's Faculty of
Rehabilitation Medicine to provide funding support for the newly
created Consumer Health Technology Innovation Living Laboratory Community program.
"I am pleased to announce today that we are providing $1.3 million
dollars over the next three years to carry out research with the
University of Alberta on the application of emerging technologies to
improve patient care within the community," said Darren Entwistle,
President and CEO, TELUS. "Alberta is at the forefront of healthcare
transformation and we are continuing to build on that momentum by
working with the University of Alberta to establish this national
centre of excellence for consumer health technology, which will further
showcase Alberta's leadership in healthcare innovation."
Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell, Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
and Chair of the Health Sciences Council said, "This is an important
collaboration between the University of Alberta and TELUS. Our
partnership will significantly advance the development and adoption of
new technologies in the community so people, particularly seniors, can
remain independent and healthy. The Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
has long been involved in developing new adaptive and assistive
technologies and this partnership is the logical next step we need to
help improve the quality of life of Albertans."
The Consumer Health Technology Innovation Living Laboratory Community will explore opportunities for the application of emerging technologies
toward patient care within the community.
Some initial studies will include:
-
Extending the use of Personal Health Records to patients and their
families living with chronic conditions related to diabetes, heart
failure, lung disease and mental health;
-
Integrating Remote Patient Monitoring devices such as glucometers,
weight scales and blood pressure monitors to capture accurate health
data directly from patients; and
-
Supporting physicians and other members of the healthcare team by
integrating care plans and health data in Electronic Medical Records,
and making them accessible on tablets and smartphones.
One of the first projects under this new TELUS and U of A partnership is
the extension of the current Sherwood Park Primary Care Network project, in collaboration with the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy. This
initiative will establish a Provider Portal with secured messaging and
remote patient monitoring services to improve chronic disease
management programs.Â
About the University of Alberta
The University of Alberta has an international profile of excellence
across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering,
and health sciences. As the province's flagship university founded more
than a century ago, the U of A brings the benefits of being a globally
engaged institution to Alberta's citizenry. As an institutional global
citizen, the U of A provides and promotes learning, discovery, and
creative activity that engage the issues, questions, and concerns that
matter to communities locally and internationally.
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications
company in Canada, with $10.4 billion of annual revenue and 12.7
million customer connections including 7.3 million wireless
subscribers, 3.6 million wireline network access lines and 1.3 million
Internet subscribers and more than 500,000 TELUS TV customers. Led
since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a
wide range of communications products and services including wireless,
data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and
video.
In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team
members and retirees have contributed more than $260 million to
charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.2 million
hours of service to local communities since 2000. Eleven TELUS
Community Boards across Canada lead TELUS' local philanthropic
initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding
philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of
Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to
receive this prestigious international recognition.
For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.
For further information:
Chris Gerritsen
TELUS Media Relations                        Â
403-808-9591
chris.gerritsen@telus.com
Keri Scobie
Manager, Faculty Communications
Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine,
University of Alberta
780-492-9403
keri.scobie@ualberta.caÂ