Canadian Researchers Call for Overhaul of Digital Health Education
Key Takeaways:
- Canadian researchers urge a national, outcomes-based approach to training health professionals in digital health competencies.
- The Quintuple Aim framework is proposed to align education with five goals: patient experience, population health, cost reduction, provider well-being, and health equity.
- Practical, hands-on training such as simulations and project-based assessments are recommended to ensure professionals can confidently apply digital skills in practice.
A call for system-wide reform in digital health education
As Canada’s health system undergoes rapid digital transformation, a team of Canadian researchers is advocating for a fundamental redesign of health professional education. Their goal is to ensure that all health professionals receive consistent, outcomes-driven training in digital health and informatics, enabling them to use new tools effectively and equitably.
In a newly published article in JMIR Medical Education, researchers from the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the University of Calgary argue that existing digital health education is fragmented and inconsistent, leaving professionals underprepared. The paper, titled Shaping the Future of Digital Health Education in Canada: Prioritizing Competencies for Health Care Professionals Using the Quintuple Aim, proposes a national guiding framework built on the Quintuple Aim.
The Quintuple Aim as a guiding framework
The Quintuple Aim is designed to align digital health competencies with five interconnected objectives:
- Improving patient experience
- Enhancing population health
- Reducing health care costs
- Supporting provider experience
- Advancing health equity
According to the authors, using this model makes it possible to prioritise core digital health skills such as digital literacy, privacy and data security awareness, seamless integration of user-friendly technologies, data-informed decision-making, and ensuring inclusive access for all populations.
Preparing professionals for real-world application
The researchers highlight that education must go beyond theory to include practical, real-world training. They recommend simulation exercises, project-based evaluations, and other forms of applied learning to ensure that health professionals are ready to use digital tools in clinical and public health settings.
Dr Tracie Risling from the University of Calgary underscores this point, stating:
“Additional professional development opportunities in digital health are essential to support scaled and sustainable change in Canada’s health systems that can truly create opportunities for better outcomes for all.”
Balancing national standards with local flexibility
While the paper calls for a nationally coordinated approach, it also recognises the need for local adaptation. Educational programmes should be customised to reflect regional health priorities, available infrastructure, and population needs.
The authors further stress that collaboration is crucial. Partnerships between health care organisations, educational institutions, and technology developers will ensure that training programmes evolve in step with innovation, preparing the workforce for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and advanced telehealth solutions.
A timely call to action
The study issues a clear message: Canada’s health workforce must be equipped with the skills to navigate an increasingly digital health landscape. To achieve this, cohesive and forward-thinking education strategies are needed now more than ever. Without them, health professionals risk falling behind as technology continues to shape patient care and health system performance.
