QEII Foundation announces $500,000 from CIBC to enhance patient engagement in cancer care through digital app

(Halifax, Nova Scotia – Tuesday, October 8, 2024) The QEII Foundation is celebrating a $500,000 donation from CIBC in support of a digital app that will transform health care for cancer patients in Nova Scotia. CIBC’s gift will ensure patients have the resources and tools they need, helping to improve access to care.

The gift will help the app expand to offer more patient resources and support so that the tool can be used by patients and clinicians to its full potential. The QEII Foundation is actively raising $1.1 million for the project through its $100 million We Are campaign to transform health care through the QEII Health Sciences Centre.

The patient engagement app, developed by Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, is a tool that creates open lines of communication between patients and cancer care teams across the province, enabling proactive and personalized care.

The app facilitates timely access to care by electronically connecting patients to their healthcare provider and providing digital content to better inform and instruct patients during care.

The tool is helping unlock a new way to manage patient care for registered Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program patients. Today, patients who have registered for the app, can view their appointment schedule. They can make notes and keep track of how they are feeling in the diary function. They can look back on their notes just before an appointment with their care team and share how they have been feeling.

Patients who have registered for the app, will also be able to view education information including videos in the app, as of October 7th, for those who have a cancer care provider in Halifax and as of November 12th, for those who receive care in Sydney and at community sites in Nova Scotia. In 2025, use of the app will be expanded further to include functionality for patients to directly report on their health status, enabling earlier intervention to manage symptoms as the patient can relay physical and emotional needs to their health care team through the app.

With more than 45,000 people in Nova Scotia living with cancer, and rates increasing each year, CIBC’s gift will have a direct impact on patients and families during their cancer journey. 

Quotes

CIBC’s generous donation will have an incredible impact on patients receiving cancer care in Nova Scotia. A cancer diagnosis is a life-altering event. It takes a physical, mental and emotional toll on patients and their families. CIBC is helping to ensure patients have access to the support and tools they need. We are extremely grateful to CIBC for sharing our commitment to improving access to care and introducing new technology through the We Are campaign.
     - Susan Mullin, president and CEO, QEII Foundation

Cancer is a cause that is very important to us at CIBC because it affects so many Canadians, including our team members, clients, and loved ones. We invest in organizations that deliver cancer research, treatment, screening and diagnosis; and wellness, survivorship, and patient support programs. We’re proud to support QEII and the patient engagement app, which will ensure patients have the support and tools they need during their journey.
     - Mike Bagnall, VP, Market Leader Atlantic, Commercial Banking

The impact of cancer in our communities is profound as Nova Scotia cancer rates are some of the highest in the country. CIBC’s investment in the patient engagement app is helping to revolutionize cancer care for the patients and families depending on us. We are continuing to expand this tool to ensure it can be used by patients and clinicians to its full potential. CIBC’s donation is a significant step forward.
    - Dr. Amanda Caissie, radiation oncologist, QEII Health Sciences Centre, medical director of the Cancer Care Oncology Transformation Project and Innovator in Residence for digital solutions, Nova Scotia Health
 

Quick Facts

• CIBC donated $500,000 to the QEII Foundation to support the patient engagement app, a digital tool that connects patients to their healthcare providers during their cancer journey.
• The QEII Foundation is working with the community to raise $1.1 million to support the project through the $100 million We Are campaign. CIBC’s generous $500,000 gift is a significant contribution.
• The digital app is developed by Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company, is free to use for registered Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program patients.
  • Currently, 5,809 patients have registered for the patient engagement app.
  • The app is accessible using a mobile phone, tablet or desktop computer.
  • Patients without accessibility to a computer, a cell phone or a tablet or are not yet comfortable using the online tool will still receive information they need by paper copy and be able to connect with their care team as the patient telephone line remains available.
• The patient engagement app is enhancing cancer care delivery by providing a powerful digital tool that gives patients a direct connection to their care teams, the ability to report symptoms from home and the comfort of having 24/7 support when needed.
• Approximately 45,000 Nova Scotians are currently receiving some form of cancer care in the province.
  • Nova Scotia has some of the highest cancer rates in the country; one in two people will be affected by cancer in their lifetime.
• The Cancer Care Patient App is part of Nova Scotia Health’s Oncology Transformation Project (OTP). The project will modernize the way cancer care is delivered and will bring together its key oncology information systems for the first time – with information available in real time.
  • Through this project, Nova Scotia Health is creating a single access point for cancer patient referrals, triage, and treatment which in turn, will lead to streamlined standardized care, reduced wait times, and provide better outcomes for patients.

Media Inquiries

Fallon Bourgeois
QEII Foundation
902 240 3857  | fallon.bourgeois@qe2foundation.ca