Working on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic day in and day out, health-care workers experienced significant mental-health challenges over the past two and a half years — and while the most acute phases of the pandemic may have passed, the sector is preparing for the psychological fallout. Employers in the sector have responded proactively […]
One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime and by age 40 about 50 per cent of the population will have or have had one. Mental illness includes conditions such as depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, which “can really affect the ability of an individual to function,” said Nida Mian, senior […]
Pharmacogenetic testing has become a popular addition to employee benefits packages, primarily because of its ability to inform personalized drug treatment, especially in mental health where it can be challenging to find an appropriate treatment and dosage that’s effective without causing side-effects. Many patients end up trying multiple medications and dosages without achieving improved outcomes, […]
The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board is investing in a Toronto-based artificial intelligence company. The CPPIB entered a $125 million funding round for a Untether AI Corp., a company that creates software and hardware used in AI platforms. The new funding will be used to enhance its software offerings and build a new generation of products, […]
In the last 17 months, workplaces are prioritizing their employees’ physical health above all else. But what happens when employees’ mental health falls to the wayside? “Depression is a constellation of symptoms — and one must show five out of nine symptoms with some of the symptoms in question as slight as a change in […]
The same technology advancements that allowed for hyper-personalized service in sectors from banking to food delivery were already in the process of remaking health-care access and delivery. And then the coronavirus pandemic hit, quickly accelerating the acceptance of digital health care in Canada. Surveys have shown 60 per cent of health-care visits are now taking […]
Green Shield Holdings Inc. is acquiring Inkblot Technologies, a virtual mental-health platform that uses artificial intelligence-assisted technology, network effects and advanced analytics to match patients with counsellors. “Building on our previous . . . digital-health investments and partnerships, the acquisition of Inkblot fits with our strategic objective of increasing access for our clients to leading health services […]
Plan sponsors with growing concerns about benefits plan sustainability should focus on a few strategic pharmacy benefits plan issues, said Mark Rolnick, executive vice-president of pharmacy innovation and patient experience at Green Shield Canada, during a session at Benefits Canada’s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum on Dec. 9, 2020. He recommended that plans […]
On average, one in three Canadians will be disabled for 90 days or more at least once before they reach age 65, according to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. Therefore, income protection is important, but it’s not always fully understood and cost is sometimes perceived as too high. As a result, some groups […]
Virtual-care options are gaining ground, according to the 2020 Sanofi Canada health-care survey. Looking at a scenario where plan members would receive health-care services through secure digital chat or video devices — where the health-care professionals aren’t the member’s usual providers, but would be able to share the consultation information with them if requested — […]