Press Release
November 6, 2002
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Agfa supports health informatics research
at the University of Waterloo by funding research chair
WATERLOO, Ont. -- Responding to the critical need for better use of
information technology in all facets of the health system, Agfa is
providing funds to establish a research chair in health informatics at
the University of Waterloo.
This chair is a cornerstone in a major UW research program that
will link experts from numerous disciplines to investigate, develop,
apply, refine and evaluate health informatics solutions to fundamental
problems faced by the Canadian health care system.
The Agfa Research Chair in Health Informatics was announced jointly
by John Glass, General Manager of Agfa HealthCare, Steven L. Nakashige,
CEO of Agfa HealthCare Informatics, and David Johnston, President of
the University of Waterloo.
"The results of this research program will have impact not
only on the Canadian health system, but health care around the globe,"
said John Glass. "Canada and the University of Waterloo have an
opportunity to provide innovative solutions to fundamental information
problems currently inherent in most health systems.
"Both the operation and evaluation of the health system are
severely hindered by the fact that appropriate data and information are
often not available and that existing data and information are not
easily exchanged among the various operating units and personnel within
the system," explained Dominic Covvey, the chairholder heading the
research program.
"The health system is a knowledge organization, and data and
information are its life-blood," he added.
"As a university with strengths in several key disciplines,
including accounting, applied health sciences, computer science,
economics, engineering and life sciences, we are positioned to provide
leadership in the many areas of the health system that require
information to function adequately," commented David Johnston.
"We are delighted to be a research partner with the University
of Waterloo and to be supporting what we believe to be the first chair
in health informatics in Canada," stated Steven Nakashige. "Our
proximity to UW will further strengthen this close research partnership."
Initially the university's health informatics program will focus on
developing new concepts, methods and tools to identify, define,
collect, store, analyze and disseminate information to support
evidence-based care in all aspects of the health care system. Enhancing
collaboration in multidisciplinary research teams will be a key part of
this new research program.
The results of this research program will strengthen the ability of
consumers, clinicians, managers and policy makers to access, interpret,
evaluate critically and respond to the health information they
encounter in their interactions with the health system.
-30-
For further information, contact:
Prof. Dominic Covvey, (519) 888-4567, ext. 5996; dcovvey@csg.uwaterloo.ca
Renee Stacey, Manager, Media Relation, (519) 746-2900; rstacey@mitra.com
Jim Fox, Manager, UW News Bureau, (519) 888-4444; jfox@uwaterloo.ca
Release no. 226 -- November 6, 2002
