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New tool aims to help Nova Scotians with common heart abnormality

Posted by Allison Gerrard on September 20, 2013 in News
Dr. Jafna Cox, director of research in Dalhousie Medical School’s Division of Cardiology, speaks to the patient-empowerment potential of the IMPACT program.
Dr. Jafna Cox, director of research in Dalhousie Medical School’s Division of Cardiology, speaks to the patient-empowerment potential of the IMPACT program.

Dalhousie and Capital Health researchers are aiming to enhance the quality of life for people with atrial fibrillation through a new web-based tool. 

IMPACT-AF (Integrated Management Program Advancing Community Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation) will transfer knowledge and expertise from leading Nova Scotia heart researchers to front-line health providers across the province.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm abnormality, affecting an estimated 20,000 Nova Scotians.

“We have a unique opportunity, by using health information technology to its fullest potential, to engage and empower patients throughout their care journey, while at the same time supporting primary care providers with an innovative health information system," said Dr. Jafna Cox, director of research in Dalhousie Medical School’s Division of Cardiology.

The interactive, password-protected portal will help family doctors and other primary caregivers decide, in partnership with their patients, how to best manage their patients' heart health. The portal translates Canadian AF care guidelines and best practices into a personalized approach to care.

"Although many different health information systems exist, currently there is a general lack of clinical guideline-based decision support being offered to physicians at the point-of-care, and also the current systems do not proactively engage patients in their care process,” said Dr. Raza Abidi, the Dalhousie-based technical lead for the project. “IMPACT-AF offers a unique opportunity to utilize our health informatics technologies to better meet the needs of both health professionals and patients."

If the IMPACT-AF group finds that the website provides AF patients with better health outcomes and reduced heart-related hospital visits, the platform can be expanded to manage a number of other chronic conditions.

“This project is a great example of how Dalhousie and Capital Health researchers are pioneering innovative solutions to pressing health care problems,” said Dr. Mark Filiaggi, Dalhousie’s associate vice-president of research. “This is a strong research team – one that has expertise in medicine, health informatics, clinical epidemiology, and biostatistics. And we’re looking forward to watching the IMPACT-AF project roll out across Nova Scotia.”

The project is expected to continue over the next several years, with a multimillion-dollar budget. It’s supported by a research grant from Bayer Inc.