Congratulations Dr. Rich Lester
Dr. Richard Lester (WelTel Incorporated and WelTel International mHealth Society) is the winner of the 2020 Clinical Innovator Award.
https://digitalhealthcanada.com/all-blog-posts/2020-chia-award-winner-dr-richard-lester/
December 2020 Newsletter
Happy Holidays! Click on the link below to see what’s news!
https://us4.campaign-archive.com/?e=__test_email__&u=988bb5dad7c868508f45c9a90&id=c0442f7ad0
Royal College Interview with Dr Rich Lester: COVID-19 Research Q&A Series
Discover how Well Tel is helping during the COVID-19 pandemic
Our Research Newsletter is here!
Looking for funding opportunities? COVID_19 Research projects? Want to know more? Click on the link below
Vancouver Coastal Health tests app that could be used for quarantined COVID-19 patients
Congratulations Elizabeth King
On behalf of Dr. Natasha Press and the UBC Division of Infectious Diseases:
Congratulations to Elizabeth King for being accepted into the CIP (Clinical Investigator Program) for next year!
The UBC Clinician Investigator program is designed to provide a combined research and clinical training stream for residents, and to encourage young physicians to pursue careers as clinician-scientists.
For her CIP project, Liz will continue to work with Mel Murray and Mona Loutfy to investigate issues related to women’s health in HIV-infected women. Liz has already published manuscripts related to amenorrhea and bone health in HIV-infected women.
Congrats Liz!
Congratulations Dr. Josh Douglas
Josh Douglas Infectious Disease Physician, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Category Quality Culture Trailblazer
- Year 2020
For the full story click here: https://bcpsqc.ca/quality-awards/winners/josh-douglas/
Congratulations Dr. Rich Lester
Meeting the health care needs of dynamic patient populations requires forward-thinking innovators. From curing disease to improving quality of life, researchers are at the forefront of medical advances that support the health and happiness of patients and their families. Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) is proud to contribute to visionary research with our annual Innovation and Translational Research Awards. This year’s recipients are putting new knowledge into practice, implementing research outcomes and turning discoveries into commercial opportunities.
VIRTUAL CARE FOR REDUCED HOSPITAL READMISSIONS AND IMPROVED HEALTH

Study: Reducing preventable hospital readmission using post-discharge virtual care: WelTel H2home
Funded by: VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
Virtual care can improve the quality and efficiency of health care through supporting patients in their transition back to the community and preventing unplanned readmission to hospital. The WelTel (WT) holistic virtual care platform has been demonstrated to improve medication adherence and health outcomes using weekly text message check-ins. In this study, researchers will examine if the use of WT can avert unplanned hospital admissions and identify potential improvements to quality of care for patients and care providers.
The WT platform includes an easy-to-use dashboard, appointment reminders, links to other clinics and services, a password-protected patient portal for health information and the ability to host real-time virtual voice or video encounters.
“Open two-way communication lets patients connect to care in ways that are most meaningful to them,” notes Dr. Richard Lester. “Patient satisfaction using the platform has been very high to date, and frontline and allied health providers have reported improved efficiencies in team-based care.”
Find the entire article here: https://www.vchri.ca/stories/articles/2019/08/13/award-supports-moving-innovative-research-practice
ID Fellows Victoria Weaver & Elizabeth King
Haida Gwaii project allows patients to reach health-care professionals via text
CBC Article:
What you need to know about Ebola in Canada
The Neglected Global Diseases Initiative (NGDI) at UBC has developed an online resource for scientists, practitioners, and the public in BC: http://ngdi.ubc.ca/?page_id=9844
Texting for HIV care in Kenya
A University of British Columbia research team, lead by Dr. Richard Lester in the Division of Infectious Diseases, is using cell phones to improve HIV patient care in Africa, and has secured a $2 million investment to expand their mobile health (mHealth) program across rural Kenya.
Find out more at the UBC Faculty of Medicine website.