Submission ID 131827
| Issue/Objective | Globally, health systems are under pressure to deliver equitable care amid fragmented governance, constrained resources, and accelerating digital transformation. While virtual health holds promise, without timely and contextually grounded evidence it risks reinforcing existing inequities. Operational teams require actionable insights to inform service design and delivery, yet research translation is often slowed by disconnects between academic research and health system operations, as well as limited dissemination of practice‑embedded learning. This poster shares practical lessons from an embedded virtual health research initiative within a Canadian regional health authority, demonstrating how equity‑driven, system‑embedded research can serve as a mechanism for implementation, accountability, and learning. Sharing such process-focused insights is critical for moving beyond rhetoric toward sustained, collective action. |
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| Methodology/Approach | Fraser Health Authority serves over two million people across urban, suburban, and rural communities, including large Indigenous and South Asian populations. In 2024, a Virtual Health Preferences and Access Survey was conducted to explore experiences, access, and preferences for virtual care. Guided by integrated knowledge translation (iKT) principles, the team co‑designed and implemented a community‑facing survey. Data were collected using both online (48%) and in‑person (52%) modes in seven languages. Following completion, the team conducted a structured reflective debrief using the 4Ls method (Liked, Learned, Lacked, Longed for), supplemented by project documentation and qualitative review of implementation processes. |
| Results | A total of 617 participants completed the survey, with 70% identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour; 29% aged 65+; and 55% reporting household income under $60,000. Key findings included the critical role of multilingual, in‑person outreach; the value of trusted community partnerships; and the operational challenges of navigating ethics, administration, and timelines within a dynamic health system. Embedded positioning enabled rapid feedback to operational teams while supporting rigorous, inclusive research practices. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | This case demonstrates how embedded research teams can bridge evidence and action by producing equity‑relevant data while simultaneously strengthening learning health systems. By foregrounding implementation processes and reflective practice, this work advances practical approaches to accountability in digital health. These lessons are scalable to other settings seeking to translate evidence into impact amid uncertainty; reclaiming global health equity through action, not rhetoric. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Olivia Nieves Echevarria Fraser Health Authority Maria Montenegro Fraser Health Authority Quynh Ho Fraser Health Authority Mahado Mohamed Hassan Fraser Health Authority Rico Misajon Fraser Health Authority Janice Sorensen Fraser Health Authority Lillian Hung University of British Columbia Valorie Crooks Simon Fraser University Megan MacPherson University of British Columbia Joanna Marie Rivera McGill University |
