full letter of support

Excellent care, for everyone,
everywhere, every time.
May 8, 2015
Ref #16692
2015 VIATeC Technology Awards
c/o Oriane Fort
Victoria Advanced Technology Council (VIATEC)
777 Fort Street, 4th floor
Victoria, BC V8W 1H2
To Whom It May Concern,
I am pleased to support the nomination of Cerner and the Orcah Institute for the category of Innovative
Excellence. The work this team has done on the vision, design and creation for KnowMe has been
exemplary and we firmly believe it will help us change the conversation of patient care at Island Health.
Four years ago, Island Health received a wakeup call that prompted us to re-evaluate the way we
support frail seniors and patients with complex health needs. Mrs. G, a woman in her late eighties,
arrived in our emergency department after a fall at home left her with a fractured wrist. Instead of
recovering from her injury and returning home, she remained in hospital where her health deteriorated.
She never regained her independence and was unable to walk when she was admitted to residential
care. “Mrs. G’s story was the catalyst for care transformation at Island Health.
With this in mind, the Orcah Institute designed a ground breaking solution that allows patients to
communicate their health and story in their own words. The KnowMe solution creates a truly
integrated, consumer driven approach to how care givers can know what matters to a patient, not just
what is the matter with them.
The KnowMe project is an example we are proud of, because it shows how the vision or the Orcah
Institute is being realized in patient care. This is a truly innovative solution for patient care.
This solution provides a solid foundation for change and has a bright future at Island Health, across
Canada and eventually for the world.
Sincere regards,
Catherine Claiter-Larsen
Vice President Quality Systems and Chief Information Officer
Executive Office
Located at: 2101 Richmond Road | Victoria, BC V8R 4R7 Canada
Mailing address: 1952 Bay Street | Victoria, BC V8R 1J8 Canada
Tel: 250.370.8699 | Fax: 250.370.8750
viha.ca