The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) wished to understand how virtual care, as a rapidly emerging health technology, is currently being used across Canada. This included gaining insights on how and where virtual care is being used, what barriers are experienced, what facilitators are effective and how virtual care can positively impacts patient access, patient experience and health system sustainability. To gain this understanding CPAC, with financial support from Health Canada, chose to invest in a comprehensive environmental scan with a digital agency partner. Sandbox was fortunate to be selected as CPAC’s partner to conduct this progressive scan.
- Investigate how virtual care is being used in Canada
- Identify virtual care's benefits, enablers, opportunities and barriers
- Discover and review software that enables virtual care
- Identify opportunities for how virtual care may contribute to the priorities and actions of the refreshed Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control
Solution
In conducting the environmental scan, Sandbox assisted CPAC in conducting secondary research, 18 key informant interviews, 20 virtual care platform reviews, and 14 provider-driven virtual care platform demonstrations. The insights gained from these discovery activities were then used to guide the development of the final report. Together, CPAC and Sandbox also identified opportunities for virtual care to positively impact access to care for cancer patients, the patient experience and health system sustainability.
Outcome
The Virtual Care in Canada: Environmental Scan was published on the CPAC website in September of 2019. Accompanying the scan was an Executive Summary and 5 supporting Appendices including Acknowledgements, Sample Virtual Care Pilots, Virtual Care Platform Capabilities, Virtual Care Around the Globe and Virtual Care Barriers. The results of this scan are also being used to inform CPAC's programming associated with the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control. Read the Virtual Care in Canada: Environmental Scan Report
"Strategic acumen, exceptional client service and incredible attention to detail are the qualities that make Sandbox a standout and truly valued partner."
— Annemarie Edwards, Director, Digital Innovation, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer