The
infraNET Project and
Waterloo Institute for Health Informatics Research
University of Waterloo
present ...
Geographic
Information Systems
for Community Health
by
Tom
Vair
Executive Director, Sault Ste.
Marie Innovation Centre
and
Michelle Courneene
Health
Informatics Development Manager, Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
Wednesday,
May 28, 2008
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Davis Centre, Room 1302
University of Waterloo
Seminar Series Sponsors
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
McKesson Information Solutions
Healthcare Information Management and Communications Canada
Presentation Archive 2008
Abstract
The Sault Ste.
Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) and its Community Geomatics Centre
(CGC) have developed an award-winning Geographic Informatics System
(GIS) application for the health and human services sector. The CGC
collaborates with local agencies to improve community health by adding
relevant health and social data to the community s extremely
comprehensive municipal GIS dataset. This has enabled the
visualization of health-related and demographic information projected
onto the geography of the region and the use of this information to guide
community interventions. With this tool, the CGC has tracked problems related
to early childhood development, handicap accessibility, elder abuse, public
safety, infection control and environmental health. Partners include
the Algoma Health Unit, Child Care Algoma,
the Children s Aid Society, Sault Area Hospital, Communities
Quality Improvement and Sault Ste. Marie District Social Services
Administration Board. Results indicate improvements in public safety,
reductions in municipal liabilities and more effective use of
budgetary resources. Last year, SSMIC received ESRI s Special
Achievement in GIS Award for their work in Health and Human Services. SSMIC
is now working with organizations across the province on exciting GIS
in Health projects.
About the Speaker
Tom Vair As SSMIC
s Executive Director, Tom leads a not-for-profit organization that
promotes economic diversification through information technology and
knowledge-based industries. Tom is an experienced high-tech professional
who worked for 10 years in Ottawa, most recently in management positions
at biotechnology and Internet start-ups. He launched his career with Corel
and eventually became division manager of a newly formed business unit.
He holds an MBA (McMaster University) and a BA (University of Western
Ontario). He is a past member of the Ontario Research and Innovation
Council. Michelle Courneene As SSMIC s Health Informatics
Development Manager, Michelle develops and manages strategic projects,
fosters partnerships, undertakes feasibility studies within the health
informatics sector and works with community and provincial partners to
drive sector growth. She has worked internationally in health
informatics and information technology as the Assistant Health Information
Systems Project Manager and Informatics Specialist for the Ministry of
Health and Social Security in Dominica and as a consultant for the Pan American
Health Organization and for the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States.
Michelle holds an Honours BA in Psychology (University of Windsor) and
a BA in Information Technology (Algoma University College).
For more information
Shirley Fenton
Managing Director, WIHIR
University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4074
Seminar Hosts
This seminar is hosted by the Waterloo Institute for Health
Informatics Research (WIHIR) and The infraNET Project, University of Waterloo.
The infraNET Project, initiated by the University of Waterloo in
1996, is a partnership to advance Web and Internet technologies. Its founding
partners were: LivePage (now part of Oracle), MKS, Open Text, RIM,
Sybase (Waterloo) and Waterloo Maple.
We also gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Institute for
Computer Research, University of Waterloo.
