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Health technology and pharmaceuticals are key components of the health care system and to achieving the highest standard of health care in BC. As such, Doctors of BC has developed policy that advocates for a health system that is both innovative and modern while always seeking to improve quality patient outcomes and respecting physician clinical autonomy. Current Doctors of BC policy in this area is outlined below.
Information technology has become integral to the BC health system in the form of electronic medical records, telemedicine, and research technology. While information technology has brought new innovations to healthcare, it also carries challenges in the form of interoperability, privacy concerns, and added administrative burden. As such, Doctors of BC has developed policy to address the challenges of information technology in healthcare.
Policy Papers:
2015: Response to BC Ministry of Health Policy Paper – Information Management and Technology
Policy Statements:
2017: Health Information Management and Technology Principles
Virtual care is the use of electronic means to reduce or replace face-to-face clinical interaction. It includes telemedicine, e-mail communication, and remote patient monitoring. As communication technology continues to improve, the use of virtual care continues to expand across the health system. However, with this expansion comes concerns around continuity of care and quality of care, as well as information privacy. In light of these concerns, Doctors of BC has developed policy on telemedicine and e-mail communication between physicians and their patients.
Policy Statements:
Email Communication with Patients
Precision medicine refers to the use of an individual’s genomic and epigenetic information, including individual patterns of disease, in order to provide targeted treatment that is tailored to an individual’s genetic profile. This has the potential to lead to better individual treatment, but there are concerns related to privacy, education gaps, and lack of needed infrastructure. In response to the growing importance of precision medicine and related concerns, Doctors of BC has developed policy on precision medicine and direct-to-consumer genetic testing.
Policy Papers:
Precision Medicine – Understanding Our Genes for Better Health
Policy Statements:
Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing for Health Purposes
Pharmaceuticals play an increasing and significant role in the health system as new innovation leads to expanded and improved treatment for a range of illnesses and disease. Expansion in pharmaceutical innovation and treatment has also increased the influence of pharmaceutical companies in the healthcare landscape and generated ever increasing expenditures on prescription drugs by both private and public insurance plans. As such, Doctors of BC has developed policy to speak to these key issues.
Policy Papers:
A Prescription for Quality – Improving Drug Policy in BC
Policy Statements: