Improving health outcomes for patients living with interstitial lung disease and addressing the gaps in care is the aim of a new collaboration
BURLINGTON/HAMILTON, Ont. (Nov. 29, 2022) – Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. and the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health (FIRH) are collaborating to bring an innovative health solution for patients living with interstitial lung disease (ILD) to address crucial care gaps. The CONNECT-ILD project will use innovative technology—Seamless MD—that enables remote patient management, peer-to-peer community support, patient education, and multi-disciplinary discussions to provide patients with another pathway to access the care they need.
An estimated 18 to 32 per cent of patients with an ILD will have their condition evolve to a progressive fibrosing-ILD (PF-ILD), leading to respiratory failure and death within three to five years from diagnosis.1 Regular monitoring is important for the early detection of patients with a progressive course of the disease.2
“At the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, we’re excited for the launch of CONNECT-ILD as it approaches ILD care holistically and goes beyond managing physical symptoms,” says Dr. Martin Kolb, a respirologist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Director of the Respirology Division at McMaster University, and Canada’s first research chair holder in interstitial lung disease. “By partnering to optimize care in an innovative, first-of-its-kind way, we are leveraging our strengths to collectively create sustainable and transformative healthcare solutions for patients.”
The collaboration uses the digital care journey platform—SeamlessMD—which was selected through a rigorous process from among 20 proposed solutions. The platform provides patients with reminders, evidence-based education, progress tracking, symptom management, and allows for remote patient monitoring for patients who are diagnosed with ILD. The platform, accessible via app and web, features both patient and physician portals. The goals of the program are continuous monitoring of patients at higher risk of poor outcomes, reduced waitlist by limiting the need for in-person visits, and improved experience for patients and physicians.
“The Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is proud to be involved in this innovative partnership that transforms patient care and connects patients and caregivers to their care team,” says Sharon Lee, Executive Director of the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. “By addressing the unmet needs of people living with ILD, and providing them access to personalized support, they can receive the care they need through every step of their ILD journey.”
One of the major components behind this innovation is the key collaboration between a leading research centre, a digital care platform creator and industry, through a collaborative process enabled by MEDTEQ+—a pan-Canadian Consortium accelerating the development and commercialization of innovative technological solutions developed by the Canadian health technologies industry—to improve the lives of patients.
“With this collaboration, we aim to make a positive impact for those with ILD and drive sustainable and transformative health system change,” says Annie Beauchemin, Executive Director, Patient Access and Healthcare Solutions for Boehringer Ingelheim Canada. “By embracing the power of partnership and the diversity of experts in the scientific community, we can develop more innovative solutions together and improve patient outcomes.”
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About Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILDs)
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the name for a group of lung conditions that damage the lung tissue. There are more than 200 different ILDs. ILDs cause scarring in your lungs (pulmonary fibrosis), inflammation in your lungs or a mix of both.3 Up to 30,000 Canadians live with all forms of pulmonary fibrosis, with an estimated 5,000 deaths each year.4
About St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton – Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health (FIRH)
FIRH conducts research to increase understanding of respiratory health and disease through collaborative basic and clinical investigations with the expectation of improving patient care. Research is wide-ranging, from basic studies of animal models of lung disease (asthma, COPD, fibrosis) to clinical trials and epidemiological studies such as the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study (CHILD) birth cohort study, for which the FIRH is hosting the coordinating centre. Specialized facilities have been established at the FIRH, such as the Sputum Research Laboratory and the Aerosol Research Laboratory. Scientists at the FIRH are performing studies of bone marrow progenitor cells, airway peptide challenges, electrophysiological studies of airway smooth muscle cells, chronic allergen challenges, preclinical models of lung injury and repair, and more. The research productivity of FIRH is attested to by the high quality and impact of the peer-reviewed publications.
About MEDTEQ+
The mission of the Pan-Canadian Consortium for Industrial Research and Innovation in Medical Technologies (MEDTEQ+) is to accelerate the development of innovative technological solutions to improve the health status and quality of life of patients. MEDTEQ+ supports the validation of these technologies, their integration into the healthcare network, and their local and international outreach by bringing together the complementary skills of industrial and institutional partners and healthcare providers. MEDTEQ+ relies on the financial support of the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada (through the Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) program), the private sector, and complementary partners to foster research-industry relationships. https://www.medteq.ca/
About Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd.
Boehringer Ingelheim is working on breakthrough therapies that transform lives, today and for generations to come. As a leading research-driven biopharmaceutical company, the company creates value through innovation in areas of high unmet medical need. Founded in 1885 and family-owned ever since, Boehringer Ingelheim takes a long-term perspective. More than 52,000 employees serve over 130 markets in the three business areas, Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing. The Canadian headquarters of Boehringer Ingelheim was established in 1972 in Montreal, Quebec and is now located in Burlington, Ontario. Boehringer Ingelheim employs approximately 500 people across Canada. Learn more at www.boehringer-ingelheim.ca.
About SeamlessMD
SeamlessMD provides the leading Digital Care Journey platform for hospitals and health systems to engage, monitor and stay connected with patients across healthcare journeys. 30+ clinical studies & evaluations have shown SeamlessMD to improve the patient experience while reducing hospital length of stay, readmissions, and ED visits. Health systems such as Trillium Health Partners, SE Health, William Osler Health System, Sunnybrook, Grand River Hospital, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Nova Scotia Health Authority and others use SeamlessMD to elevate the patient experience, improve outcomes and lower costs. Patients access digital care plans on their smartphones, tablets or computers and are guided via reminders, education, and progress tracking. Providers receive alerts, monitor patients and access analytics to deliver better care. SeamlessMD is directly integrated with EHRs such as Epic, Cerner, and MEDITECH. Learn more at https://seamless.md/
1 Wijsenbeek M, Kreuter M, Olson A, Fischer A, Bendstrup E, Wells CD, Denton CP, Mounir B, Zouad-Lejour L, Quaresma M, Cottin V. Progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases: current practice in diagnosis and management, Current Medical Research and Opinion 2019; 35:110.
2 Ibid.
3 British Lung Foundation. What is pulmonary fibrosis? Available at: https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/pulmonary-fibrosis/what-is-pulmonary-fibrosis [Accessed November 2022].
4 Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (2016). Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Patient Information Guide. Available at: https://cpff.ca/wp content/uploads/2022/06/IPF_Guide_2012_EN_Rev_Feb_2106_ForWeb.pdf [Accessed November 2022].
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