Apple Magazine - Fall 2017

We’re learning what’s needed directly from patients. Having them front and centre is really important

applemag.ca

FALL 2017 31

trials in what we call a real-world evidence trial. We’re introducing products into care and into real-life settings. Real-life settings tend to be messier and less controlled than clinical trials, but they are also a more realistic picture. If it proves useful, a product or innovation can be introduced to the healthcare system as a whole.

Q: What are AI’s and SCNs’ roles in
these trials?

Joseph: AI provides the research
funding for additional resources such
as a nurse, statistician, clinician or other
personnel to introduce the innovation
and track how it’s working. The SCNs
focus on supporting operations to
deliver the new approach and, if it
makes a positive difference, how it can
be adopted and then introduced across
Alberta’s healthcare system.

Q: What’s next for the SCN-AI
partnership?

Wasylak: We’ve formed core communities to bring people from across the province together so that good ideas can be brought to the table. This gets done by people who run our healthcare system collaborating every day. We also have more than 110 patients and families involved with the SCNs. We’re learning what’s needed directly from patients. Having them front and centre is really important.|a

Tracy Wasylak is Alberta Health Services’ senior program officer for Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs).

Alberta Innovates supports research and innovation that improves people’s lives in areas such as health and life sciences, agriculture, forestry and ecology, and energy and the environment.